Manchester City delivered a statement victory against Liverpool, securing their first win against manager Andoni Iraola and handing the hosts just their first defeat of the campaign. Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, and Rayan Cherki were on target in a match defined by Liverpool’s numerical disadvantage after Ryan Gravenberch’s dismissal.
Liverpool’s Alisson Becker was drawn into action early, unable to prevent Haaland’s opening strike before also being beaten by a spectacular effort from Doku and skilled footwork from Cherki. Ronald Araujo received criticism for an early caution and his involvement in the defensive errors that led to the first two goals.
Virgil van Dijk was frequently shifted out of position to compensate for midfield deficiencies, while young defender Jeremy Jacquet faced a stern examination against a high-quality City attack. Milos Kerkez worked hard against Iliman Ndiaye but struggled to provide quality in the final third.
The midfield battle saw Alexis Mac Allister grow into the game but fade once Liverpool were reduced to ten men. Ryan Gravenberch, replacing the injured Dominik Szoboszlai, was Liverpool’s standout performer until his second yellow card rendered him a costly loss. Victor Munoz was described as a persistent nuisance for City, while Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola were left wanting more from their attacking contributions.
Lewis Koumas made an energetic impact in his first Premier League start, earning praise from the Anfield crowd. Among the substitutes, Nyoni provided a decent shift, whereas Frimpong and Ngumoha had limited influence after entering the match.
For Manchester City, goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma recovered from a shaky start to make several crucial saves, particularly denying Koumas and Gravenberch in the second half. The City defense, anchored by Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, and Marc Guehi, withstood early pressure, with Nunes making a vital block in the box.
Elliot Anderson was instrumental in midfield, providing the assist for Doku’s goal, while Nico O’Reilly earned a booking for his fouling of Munoz. Enzo Fernandez struggled to find his rhythm until the game opened up after Liverpool’s red card.
The attacking lines were devastating. Rayan Cherki capped his performance with a brilliant goal, while Antoine Semenyo proved too difficult for the Liverpool back line. Haaland, despite missing a significant opportunity early in the second half, finished emphatically to restore the lead. Jeremy Doku, introduced as a substitute, immediately changed the game with a powerful strike.
Julián Gvardiol also came on to bolster the City defense, ensuring a solid result was maintained until the final whistle.
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