Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Manchester City responded to a hostile reception at Anfield with a commanding 3-0 victory over Liverpool on Sunday, extending their perfect start to the Premier League season and strengthening their position at the top of the table amid the fallout from their financial rules verdict.
Playing their first match since an independent commission found them guilty of 114 breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations, City were greeted by deafening boos, chants of “cheat, cheat” and taunts of “going down” from Liverpool supporters. Banners mocking the club’s financial conduct were also displayed around the stadium, reflecting the anger surrounding the verdict.
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Yet, when the final whistle sounded, it was the travelling supporters in blue who had the last laugh. Second-half goals from Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki sealed a comprehensive win for Pep Guardiola’s side, who capitalised on Liverpool being reduced to 10 men following Ryan Gravenberch’s dismissal just past the hour mark.
The result gave City six wins from six matches and lifted them to 18 points, three clear of second-placed Arsenal. Liverpool, meanwhile, suffered their first league defeat of the season and slipped to ninth in the standings.
HAALAND BREAKS DEADLOCK
Liverpool began the contest amid an emotionally charged atmosphere, with the home supporters making their feelings about City’s financial verdict unmistakably clear. The visiting team’s lineup was jeered before kickoff, while chants referencing a possible relegation sanction continued as the match got underway.
City, however, weathered the early pressure and gradually settled into the contest, keeping their composure despite the hostility from the stands.
The decisive moment arrived in the 62nd minute when Gravenberch received a second yellow card for a foul on Doku, leaving Liverpool with 10 men for the remainder of the contest.
City needed little time to exploit their numerical advantage. Three minutes later, Haaland broke the deadlock, firing a left-footed effort past Alisson after Doku drove into the box and his attempted shot was deflected into the Norwegian striker’s path.
Haaland immediately made his way towards the travelling supporters to celebrate, with Manchester City enjoying a breakthrough that shifted the momentum firmly in their favour.
The goal also provided a timely response for a club whose off-field troubles had dominated the build-up to the match. With the spotlight firmly on the financial verdict, City’s players delivered their answer on the pitch.
DOKU, CHERKI SEAL ROUT
Liverpool’s hopes of recovering were dealt another blow three minutes after Haaland’s opener when Doku produced a moment of individual brilliance to double City’s advantage.
The Belgian winger collected the ball and unleashed a spectacular long-range effort that curled beyond Alisson and into the far top corner, leaving the Liverpool goalkeeper with little chance.
The goal underlined City’s growing control of the contest, with the visitors making their numerical advantage count through clinical finishing and attacking quality.
Cherki added the third in the 78th minute to complete an emphatic victory. The Frenchman allowed the ball to run through to Josko Gvardiol before moving into the box to meet his teammate’s return pass and calmly slot home.
The strike effectively ended the contest, with sections of the Liverpool crowd beginning to leave Anfield with more than 10 minutes remaining.
City’s players and staff celebrated with their travelling supporters after the final whistle, with Haaland and manager Enzo Maresca visibly delighted by the result. The away section also featured giant inflatable bananas, a longstanding symbol of City’s supporters dating back to the club’s time outside the top flight in the 1980s.
CITY MAKE STATEMENT
The victory carried significance beyond the three points, offering City a powerful on-field response after a turbulent week dominated by the independent commission’s findings.
The club were found guilty of 114 breaches relating to financial reporting and other regulations over a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018. City deny wrongdoing and have appealed the verdict, with potential sanctions ranging from a substantial fine and points deductions to expulsion from the Premier League.
The uncertainty surrounding the case had followed the team to Merseyside, where Liverpool supporters made their displeasure clear through banners, chants and jeers. City largely avoided the crowds outside the stadium by taking an alternative route to Anfield, but there was no escaping the hostility once the teams emerged.
After the match, Haaland stressed the importance of unity within the squad as the club navigates the situation.
“It’s time to stay strong and stick together and do what you can do something about, stick together,” the striker told Sky Sports.
Midfielder Elliot Anderson also pointed to the team’s collective resolve, highlighting the importance of standing together in a challenging environment.
City’s sixth consecutive league victory also strengthened Maresca’s start in charge. He became only the fourth manager to win his first six Premier League matches with a club, joining Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
For Liverpool, the defeat marked a disappointing end to an afternoon that began with their supporters attempting to put City under pressure over the financial case. Instead, Gravenberch’s dismissal and City’s clinical second-half display ensured the visitors left with all three points.
The verdict surrounding City remains unresolved as the appeal process continues, but their response at Anfield was emphatic. Amid the boos, banners and taunts, City delivered a statement of their own, maintaining their perfect league record and leaving Liverpool with little to celebrate.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
