Liverpool v Man City
Play By Play
Full-time arrives at a quickly emptying Anfield, and despite the outside noise, a thick-skinned Manchester City prevail 3-0 over the 10-men of Liverpool. After a tense opening 45 minutes were punctuated by half-chances and a plethora of fouls, the game changed after Gravenberch picked up a second yellow card. Just two minutes after the Dutchman received his marching orders for a lunge on Doku, Haaland lashed his side in front as a ricochet fell the isolated striker's way. If that alone wasn't testament to how ruthless Maresca's men could be, the lead was doubled in the 68th minute as Doku cut back inside to curl a fine effort beautifully into the top-right corner from outside the box. It was soon 3-0 as the game approached the dying embers, and it came in a style akin to a floundering young side being bullied by the big boys. While some will argue these 'big boys' don't play by the rules, the dovetailing Cherki's dummying give-and-go with Gvardiol inside the box was in a league of its own. He then sent Frimpong for an emphatic slide before rolling past Alisson with ease. With something of a harrowing victory given the recent news cycle, Manchester City continue at the Premier League summit after playing well above their 1.3 xG. Manager Maresca also becomes just the fourth manager to win his first six Premier League matches in charge. Iraola's Liverpool showed flashes but were ultimately undone by Gravenberch's dismissal as they struggled to push beyond their 0.86 xG. They move down a place to ninth. Thanks for joining us today. Goodbye!
FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 0-3 MANCHESTER CITY
The Kop continues to make itself heard this evening. It makes you wonder what the reception will be like for City at grounds around the division.
Van Dijk steps across Cherki cynically and wipes him out to warrant a stoppage-time booking.
There'll be a minimum of three added minutes here.
It's been a difficult watch for anyone of a Scouse persuasion today, but credit to the fans. 'YNWA' rings out proudly despite the result.
Barcola is the next to make way, as Federico Chiesa is another fringe man to get minutes in the dying embers here.
Liverpool fans are up in approval of Jacquet as he gets replaced late on for Joe Gomez.
Mac Allister sends his free-kick over the wall, but straight into the gloves of Donnarumma. Semenyo then looks to hurdle Van Dijk on the counter, but the experienced centre-back slides in with deft precision.
Bouaddi is the latest to pick up a card here, following a cynical clip on Munoz from behind. The Spaniard, one of few bright spots for Liverpool today, was well on his way to breaching the City penalty area.
The visitors keep the ball with the utmost control, even if Munoz nearly latches onto a Donnarumma pass out from the back. A lot of people probably wanted the Reds to inflict some sort of punishment on the Sky Blues today, but wow, they have been ruthless. Especially after Gravenberch's dismissal.
The second of the latest double switch sees Fernandez replaced by Moroccan talent, Ayyoub Bouaddi.
City make late changes. After his goal-getting display, Haaland heads off for Allan.
Gvardiol picks up a fine assist, reacting well after Cherki's dummy before finding the midfielder's run with the one-two. City are running riot.
GOOOAAALLLLL! 3-0 CITY AS CHERKI SCORES A GOAL STRAIGHT FROM THE STREETS! The French star dummies an initial pass inside the box and skips past Frimpong, sending him sliding before cutting back inside Alisson to roll the ball home. Beautiful control. Beautiful mastery, despite the outside noise.
Liverpool are still chasing the ball, but just don't seem to have a response at this point. City have been ruthless, proving Maresca right. All they can do is focus on the football.
The next change sees youth replace youth, as an impressive Koumas is taken off for Rio Ngumoha.
Iraola looks to inject fresh pace into his side now. Off comes Araujo for Jeremie Frimpong at right-back.
Cherki clips the ball into space for Doku. Red shirts get back to quell the danger, and now the oles are out as passes zip around Liverpool's defensive third.
City look for another now, but Anderson can only scuff a low effort wide of the right post after bringing down a corner's clearance on the edge of the Liverpool box.
City's inflatable bananas are being waved around in the away end like there's no tomorrow. It's something of a sad sight for English football, given City's alleged rule breaches, but a spectacle to remember.
It's a simple pass from Anderson, but his part in transition sees him pick up an assist for Doku's first goal of the campaign.
GOOOAAALLLLL! DOKU TAKE A BOW! IT'S 2-0! It goes from bad to worse for the hosts as City impose merciless quality on the Anfield natives. A flowing move finds the Belgian substitute on the left, and he cuts back in to curl a beautiful effort past Alisson and into the top-right corner!
That goal arrives as Haaland's fourth goal in his seventh Premier League appearance against Liverpool. What a finisher he is, he's been so isolated at times today.
O'Reilly is the next man to make way as City refresh. On comes Josko Gvardiol.
