Manchester City maintained their perfect start to the 2026-27 Premier League season with a commanding 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, as a second-half red card for Ryan Gravenberch transformed a tightly contested encounter.
Erling Haaland, Jérémy Doku and Rayan Cherki scored in a devastating 13-minute spell to give Enzo Maresca’s side their sixth consecutive league victory and extend their lead at the top of the table to three points.
Liverpool had competed strongly before Gravenberch’s dismissal in the 62nd minute, with both sides struggling to create clear-cut opportunities during a goalless first half. The hosts also threatened early after the restart, but their momentum was disrupted when the midfielder received a second yellow card for a challenge on Doku.
The dismissal proved decisive. City took advantage of their numerical superiority almost immediately, with Haaland opening the scoring in the 65th minute after Doku drove into the penalty area and his attempt fell kindly for the Norwegian striker.
Doku doubled the visitors’ lead three minutes later, cutting inside from the left before curling an outstanding effort into the far top corner beyond goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Cherki completed the scoring in the 78th minute, finishing a flowing attacking move after Josko Gvardiol’s assist to cap a ruthless second-half performance.
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola questioned the decision to book Gravenberch for his first offence, arguing that the initial yellow card was undeserved and changed the entire complexion of the match.
“I didn’t like the refereeing today. The first yellow card was nothing,” Iraola said, according to Reuters.
The Liverpool manager nevertheless acknowledged that City were the better side after the dismissal, having praised his players’ performance during the opening hour. The defeat ended his unbeaten start in charge of the Merseyside club.
City’s victory also came amid heightened scrutiny following an independent commission’s findings concerning the club’s financial-rule breaches. Manchester City have appealed the findings and deny wrongdoing, but the team delivered a strong response on the pitch in their first match since the verdict became public.
Maresca, who has now won his first six Premier League matches as City manager, praised his players’ performance and highlighted the importance of remaining united amid the external pressure surrounding the club.
The result leaves City on 18 points from six matches, three clear of second-placed Arsenal. Liverpool, meanwhile, suffered their first league defeat of the campaign and dropped to ninth in the table.
For City, the victory reinforced their early title credentials. For Liverpool, the challenge will be to recover from a defeat in which a single disciplinary incident turned a competitive contest into a heavy home loss.