Manchester City kept their perfect start to the Premier League season on Sunday, October 11 with a dominant display to beat Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield and hand the hosts their first league setback of the season.
After more than an hour of the contest, there was no goal until Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch was sent off in the 62nd minute for a second yellow card. The dismissal swung the momentum of the game in City’s favour and gave them a grip on proceedings against the 10-man hosts.
City got the breakthrough they had been looking for when Erling Haaland opened the score in the 65th minute. Three minutes later Jeremy Doku extended the lead pounding Liverpool as the visitors made the most of their numerical edge.
Rayan Cherki capped the scoring in the 78th minute, adding a third goal to crown a strong second-half effort and hush the home crowd.
Liverpool had been pretty much on level terms before Gravenberch’s sending-off, but the red card changed the game dramatically. City took advantage with ruthless finishing as the hosts struggled to cope with the visitors’ attacking pressure after they were reduced to 10 men.
The outcome was particularly significant for City, who came into the game under heavy scrutiny following a verdict which found the club guilty of violations of Premier League financial rules. City have challenged the ruling, and the row contributed to the charged mood of the clash at Anfield.
City’s win kept their 100 per cent record intact after six league games and consolidated their grip at the top of the table. Liverpool meanwhile slumped to their first league defeat of the 2026-27 campaign and fell to eighth.
The result provides City with a boost early in the title battle, but Liverpool will be looking to bounce back from a poor afternoon in front of their home faithful.
It was a declaration of intent from City. Liverpool will have to reflect on their first league defeat of the season but the red card and three goals conceded will be major talking points.
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