Anfield was always going to provide an intimidating atmosphere when Manchester City made the short trip to Liverpool on Sunday.
The clash on Merseyside marked the first time City played since they were handed the guilty verdict for the charges against serious financial breaches. Head coach Enzo Maresca, of course, was focussed on the here and now. City hadn’t been handed a punishment, so the onus was on to maintain their 100% start to the campaign.
That they faced a Liverpool side without Cody Gakpo, Alexander Isak and Dominik Szoboszlai boosted their chances of claiming a result. In the absence of the former duo, Andoni Iraola turned to Lewis Koumas to lead the charge. It wasn’t the Welshman’s Premier League debut. It was a huge show of faith nonetheless.
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The game itself briefly boiled over following a coming together between Alexis Mac Allister and Elliot Anderson, a moment that seemed to spur City on. Antoine Semenyo received the ball down the left flank and drove at Ronald Araujo. The Ghana star broke down the outside and put a testing low cross in the box that, fortunately for Liverpool, trickled harmlessly across goal.
In a scrappy opening half hour, it was the hosts that had the best chance on the 30-minute mark. Victor Munoz and Florian Wirtz shared a neat one-two, before the former’s cross was turned behind by Nico O’Reilly.
And after the first corner was cleared, Mac Allister hit a bicycle kick over from close range following Erling Haaland’s header. Munoz tested Gianluigi Donnarumma from the edge of the box, though the Italian dealt with the Reds winger’s low strike with ease.
With 10 minutes of the first half remaining, Enzo Fernandez mustered City’s opening shot. The Argentine hoped to curl an effort past Alisson, who was equal to Fernandez’s relatively tame hit. Rayan Cherki and Semenyo both forged chances as City ended the first half the stronger of the two teams.
Liverpool started the second half well, as Bradley Barcola, Koumas, Ryan Gravenberch and Mac Allister all chanced their luck shortly after the break. Wirtz, meanwhile, dragged a shot wide as Liverpool pushed to make home advantage count.
Haaland then saw an effort trickle wide on the hour mark having been played in expertly by Semenyo. Donnarumma was on hand to turn a Gravenberch away from danger, before the Dutchman received his marching orders for a second yellow. And City made their numerical advantage count as Haaland powered in his sixth league goal of the season to hand City the lead shortly after.
Three minutes later, and City were two goals to the good as substitute Jeremy Doku bagged his side’s second, cutting onto his right and launching an unstoppable curling shot past Alisson. With 12 minutes to go, Cherki capped off a fine City move after some neat interplay from Anderson and Josko Gvardiol. The Frenchman sat Jeremie Frimpong down before finishing with aplomb.
Mac Allister tested Donnarumma with a late free-kick, while Cherki and Anderson both pushed to added a fourth as City maintained their 100% start to the season in style.
City ride out early storm to secure three points
Liverpool came flying out of the blocks at Anfield on Sunday afternoon. The Reds pushed to maximise home advantage against Manchester City and were in the ascendency in the opening exchanges.
However, once City gained a foothold in the clash on Merseyside, they made light work of Andoni Iraola’s side. They were, of course, helped by Ryan Gravenberch’s second-half dismissal. They capitalised on the Dutchman’s red card well.
Even so, they were arguably the better of the two teams even before Gravenberch was given his marching orders. It was a matter of when, rather than if, they punished Liverpool in their own back yard.
Decisive Doku
A key moment in the game came in the 56th minute. Enzo Maresca opted for Iliman Ndiaye on the flank, with Jeremy Doku starting from the bench. Ndiaye endured a testing return to Merseyside on Sunday.
It wasn’t until the Belgian’s introduction that City really began to turn the screw. And Doku maximised his opportunity. That Gravenberch was sent off minutes after he replaced Ndiaye certainly helped.
However, Doku ruthlessly exposed Liverpool’s disadvantage. Indeed, not only did the former Rennes man score City’s second, that coming from one of two shots, he completed three take ons and created two chances. It was a fine cameo from the Belgium international.
Anderson at the heart
Elliot Anderson was in the thick of it from the outset. The summer arrival was caught in an early melee that seemed to spur Liverpool on. For City, the moment seemed to calm them down.
They contained Liverpool and began to play their own game. Anderson was at the heart of it for Maresca’s men. He made more passes (78) than any other player at Anfield, and maintained a commendable 91% pass accuracy.
Anderson also won more ground duels (11) in a dominant midfield display. That he added an assist for Doku’s fine strike was the cherry on the icing atop the cake. The England star struggled in his first City appearance as they crashed to a Community Shield defeat to Arsenal. He now looks right at home in the middle of the park.