Manchester City delivered the perfect response to a deafeningly hostile Anfield crowd on Sunday, beating Liverpool 3-0 in their first match since an independent commission found them guilty of 114 breaches of the Premier League's financial rules. Second-half goals from Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki secured City's sixth win from six league games and kept them top of the table (Reuters).

A fevered Anfield

City arrived at Anfield to a wall of noise. The home crowd booed every touch by the visitors and chanted "cheat" as the clock ticked down — a direct reference to the guilty verdict handed down last week, which found the club had used sham contracts to inflate revenue over nine years from 2009 to 2018 (The Times).

City, who have filed an appeal against the verdict while the league has yet to announce sanctions, stood firm against Liverpool's early pressure. The first half ended goalless, with Liverpool missing injured trio Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai.

The red card that changed everything

The match turned in the 62nd minute when Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Doku and sent off, leaving the hosts to play the final half-hour with ten men.

City wasted no time. Three minutes later Haaland smashed home the opener, and Doku curled in a beautiful second just three minutes after that. Cherki finished the scoring in the 78th minute with a spectacular individual effort, sealing a ruthless 13-minute burst that ended the contest.

It was City's third straight win over Liverpool — a run of dominance the NBC broadcast noted the club had not enjoyed over the Reds since 1937.

Perfect start amid the storm

Enzo Maresca's side now have a perfect 18 points from six matches, extending a flawless start to the season that has barely been disturbed by the off-field drama. Haaland has scored eight goals in his past eight appearances against Liverpool in all competitions, underlining his status as the league's most feared striker (The Times).

Liverpool, seventh before kick-off, now face mounting pressure after a damaging home defeat that leaves them trailing the leaders. The afternoon ended much as it began, with the Kop chanting "cheats" at every City pass.

The verdict saga is far from over: City's appeal is pending and the Premier League has yet to reveal what sanctions — if any — will follow. But on the pitch, as our report on City's appeal against the financial verdict noted, the champions-elect continue to let their football do the talking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score between Liverpool and Manchester City?

Manchester City won 3-0 at Anfield on October 11, 2026. Erling Haaland (65'), Jeremy Doku (68') and Rayan Cherki (78') scored all three goals in the second half.

Why was the Anfield crowd hostile toward Manchester City?

It was City's first match since an independent commission found the club guilty of 114 breaches of Premier League financial rules, including the use of sham contracts to inflate revenue from 2009 to 2018. Fans chanted "cheat" throughout the game.

How did Ryan Gravenberch get sent off?

The Liverpool midfielder received a second yellow card in the 62nd minute for a foul on Jeremy Doku, forcing Liverpool to play the remaining half-hour with ten men. City scored their first two goals within six minutes of the dismissal.

What does this mean for the Premier League table?

City maintained their perfect start with six wins from six, staying top of the table. Liverpool, who were seventh before kick-off, dropped further behind the leaders after the home defeat.

What happens next with Manchester City's financial verdict?

City have filed an appeal against the guilty verdict, and the Premier League has not yet announced any sanctions. The appeal process and the league's decision will determine the off-field consequences.