Manchester City sweep Liverpool aside to stay perfect

Manchester City beat Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield on Sunday 11 October to keep their 100% start to the Premier League season.

The 2026/27 league meeting kicked off at 16:30 UK time in front of a loud home crowd. Liverpool had returned from the international break ready for a test. City left with all three points. Liverpool FC

For an hour, the game held. Then it swung fast. Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch was shown a second yellow card in the 62nd minute, which brings an automatic red card and dismissal. Liverpool had to play the last half-hour with 10 men. The Guardian

Erling Haaland struck first. He scored City's opener in the 65th minute. Three minutes later Jeremy Doku made it 2-0. Rayan Cherki added the third in the 78th minute to seal a clear away win.

Doku had only just arrived. He came on as a substitute in the 56th minute, replacing a teammate with fresh legs from the bench. He curled a shot home to double the lead. It was quick, calm and ruthless.

Cherki's goal finished the afternoon. He dummied a pass from Elliot Anderson, letting the ball run past him. He then ran onto a back-heel from fellow substitute Josko Gvardiol, cut away from substitute Jeremie Frimpong and shot home. Anfield fell quiet.

The result brought a first defeat for Liverpool under manager Andoni Iraola. It was also a new chapter for this fixture. This was the first Premier League meeting between the clubs with neither Jurgen Klopp nor Pep Guardiola in the dugout.

History was against City. They had won only two of their 16 Premier League visits to Anfield before this match. But recent form pointed the other way. City had won their previous three meetings with Liverpool by a combined 9-1 scoreline. ESPN

There was context off the pitch too. This was City's first game since being found guilty on virtually all of more than 100 charges for breaking the Premier League's financial rules. The club continued to maintain their innocence and appealed, saying the verdict contained material errors. Reuters

What makes this stand out is control. City lost none of their shape after the break. They waited for the extra space, then used it. Liverpool, down to 10 men, had no way back once the first goal went in.

For fans, this means the title race has an early pace-setter. City stay perfect. Liverpool must reset after the international break and go again.