Man City show defiance in wake of cheating scandal, trounce depleted Liverpool

LIVERPOOL, England -- Manchester City gave a defiant response to a hostile reception at Anfield by sealing a 3-0 win against Liverpool to reclaim the top spot in the Premier League in the club's first outing since being found guilty of 100-plus charges of serious rule-breaking.

Second-half goals from Erling Haaland, Jérémy Doku and Rayan Cherki after Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch had been sent off silenced a vociferous Anfield crowd that greeted City with chants of "Cheats" and countless banners criticizing their conduct as a club. City have appealed and deny all charges.

Liverpool had gone into the game unbeaten this season under new coach Andoni Iraola, but the absences of Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai because of injuries hampered the home side. And when Gravenberch was sent off, City raced clear to claim a big win that extends their 100 percent winning start to the season. -- Mark Ogden

Anfield turns on Man City, but Blues have last laugh

This was Manchester City's first game since being found guilty of breaking 114 Premier League regulations last month, and Anfield delivered the hostile reception many had anticipated.

Although their rivalry came after the 2009-18 period in which City had been found guilty -- the club has lodged an appeal -- Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool arguably missed out on two more league titles because of the strength of Pep Guardiola's City, so the home fans had plenty of anger to direct at the visitors.

City's bus even arrived through a back-door route to avid hostilities outside the ground, but there was no escaping the vitriol inside Anfield. The City players were booed throughout the warmup, and the home fans unfurled banners directed at City's rule-breaking, including "Ch£££££££££££ts," "A Generation of Supporters -- Cheated" and one with an image of City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan saying, "The Confather."

And then came the chants: "Cheats" and "You have won a trophy since 1976" among them. But despite the noise, City were able to ride it out and win the game comfortably after Gravenberch's second-half red card.

Although Enzo Maresca's players rode the storm at Anfield, this won't be an isolated experience. It will be week after week, at every away ground, so the players face a real mental challenge throughout this season. -- Ogden

Gravenberch red changes the game

There was a period early in the first half on Sunday when it looked like Gravenberch had been transported back to the 2024-25 season. That was the Dutchman's breakthrough campaign after being remodeled as a No. 6 under Arne Slot, and he has struggled to hit those heights since.

His fluctuating form has resulted in him losing his place in the starting XI under Iraola. Before this weekend, he had started just one of Liverpool's previous four Premier League games. However, an injury to Szoboszlai saw Gravenberch given the call-up alongside Alexis Mac Allister against City. It was an opportunity he seized, dominating against Enzo Fernández (signed by City for £125 million), and frequently slaloming up the pitch to set the hosts on the attack at Anfield.

But his dismissal in the second half after sustaining a second yellow card turned the game in City's favor. Only three minutes after referee Chris Kavanagh gave him his marching orders for pulling back Doku, City were in front through Haaland. Teenager Trey Nyoni was brought on to help steady the ship, but by that time, it was too late -- Liverpool were already in freefall.

Gravenberch could be forgiven for feeling aggrieved given his first yellow card came from a fairly innocuous tussle with Elliot Anderson, but his decision to pull back Doku was naive. With Liverpool already short of options, his suspension at Brentford next weekend is a huge blow. -- Beth Lindop

City's win a reminder of how they got here

Manchester City built a winning machine between 2009 and 2018, to the extent that the club has been able to sign pretty much whoever it wants for almost a decade. So while the Premier League investigation does not cover the seasons from 2018 onward, what happened before that is why City are what they are.

It is why they were able to hire Guardiola and why they beat off Europe's biggest clubs to sign Haaland in 2022. It is also why their bench is so full of quality that they could step on the gas after Gravenberch was sent off with extra proven quality.

Doku replaced Iliman Ndiaye and went on to score City's second -- two top-class players interchanging without the team breaking step. Then came other substitutes such as Ayyoub Bouaddi and Allan, big-money arrivals this summer.

Part of the reason Klopp stepped down as Liverpool manager two years ago was because he had become exhausted by the challenge of keeping pace with City and their incredible machine. This heavy defeat typified just how strong City are and why all of their rivals have been brushed aside in recent years. -- Ogden

Wirtz and Barcola fail to deliver

As Cherki celebrated his deft finish in front of the elated City supporters, Florian Wirtz watched on from the bench. The Germany international -- so often compared to his French counterpart since they joined their respective clubs last summer -- had been sacrificed a few minutes earlier as Liverpool tried to wrestle back some midfield control.

Wirtz had not been especially poor and, like all of his teammates, had worked hard. However, with a transfer fee of £116 million to Wirtz's name, Liverpool desperately needed more from him. There had been some hope on Merseyside that a fruitful couple of weeks working under Klopp for the German national team had rejuvenated the 23-year-old, but he remained ineffectual in front of goal.

The same could also be said of Bradley Barcola, who has yet to spark into life at Anfield following his initial £106 million move from Paris Saint-Germain. The forward failed to pile any real pressure on the City defense and was too often on the periphery.

It is early days for the Frenchman, but the pressure will continue to build, particularly with Isak and Gakpo -- Liverpool's two biggest goal threats -- sidelined with injury. Their absence leaves the Reds significantly lacking in attacking depth. If their big-money signings do not deliver, it is hard to see where Liverpool's goals are coming from, at least in the short term. -- Lindop