Manchester City beat Liverpool 3–0 at Anfield on Sunday, 11 October 2026, producing a clinical second-half performance to maintain their perfect start to the Premier League season.
Goals from Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki secured all three points for Enzo Maresca’s side after Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch was sent off in the 62nd minute.
The result extended City’s winning run to six league matches and moved them three points clear of Arsenal at the top of the table.
For Liverpool, it was a disappointing afternoon as Andoni Iraola’s team suffered their first Premier League defeat of the campaign.
Manchester City Overcome Hostile Anfield Atmosphere
Manchester City arrived at Anfield facing enormous pressure following an independent commission’s decision concerning alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations.
City have appealed the commission’s findings and continue to deny any wrongdoing.
Liverpool supporters made their feelings clear throughout the match, creating an intense atmosphere with loud chants directed at the visiting team.
However, City remained composed despite the pressure.
Liverpool started strongly, pressing the visitors and attempting to control the tempo.
The home side showed determination during the opening 45 minutes, limiting City’s attacking opportunities and preventing Haaland from finding space inside the penalty area.
The first half ended goalless, leaving the match finely balanced.
Ryan Gravenberch Red Card Changes the Match
The match changed in the 62nd minute.
Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch received a second yellow card for a challenge on Jeremy Doku.
The referee’s decision reduced Liverpool to ten players and immediately changed the balance of the game.
Before the dismissal, Liverpool had competed effectively against the league leaders.
However, losing a central midfielder created additional space for City’s attacking players.
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola later questioned the referee’s decision, arguing that Gravenberch’s earlier booking had been harsh.
The sending-off became one of the most discussed incidents of the match.
Erling Haaland Opens the Scoring in the 65th Minute
Manchester City needed only three minutes to take advantage of their extra player.
In the 65th minute, Jeremy Doku attacked down the left and drove into Liverpool’s penalty area.
His attempted shot was blocked, but the ball fell to Erling Haaland.
The Norwegian striker reacted quickly and fired a powerful left-footed finish beyond Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson.
It was an important goal for Haaland, who had missed an earlier opportunity.
The striker celebrated with City’s travelling supporters as the visitors took control of the match.
Liverpool suddenly faced a difficult challenge: finding an equaliser while playing with ten men against one of the Premier League’s strongest attacking teams.
Jeremy Doku Scores Spectacular Second Goal
Only three minutes after Haaland’s opener, Manchester City doubled their advantage.
Jeremy Doku, who had come off the bench earlier in the second half, produced a brilliant individual effort.
The Belgian winger moved inside from the left, created space outside the penalty area and curled a superb shot into the far corner.
Alisson had little chance of stopping the strike.
Doku’s goal was a major moment in the match because it gave City a two-goal advantage and left Liverpool with an increasingly difficult task.
His pace, close control and direct attacking approach caused problems for Liverpool’s defence.
The winger’s introduction proved particularly influential, helping City turn a competitive contest into a convincing victory.
Rayan Cherki Completes the Victory
Manchester City added their third goal in the 78th minute.
Rayan Cherki combined with Josko Gvardiol before moving into the penalty area and finishing the move.
The goal completed an impressive attacking display from the visitors.
By this stage, Liverpool were struggling to contain City’s movement and creativity.
The home supporters had watched their team compete strongly for more than an hour, but the red card and City’s clinical finishing changed the match completely.
Cherki’s goal confirmed that all three points would be heading back to Manchester.
Enzo Maresca Praises Manchester City’s Mental Strength
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca praised his players for remaining focused despite the difficult atmosphere.
The city had entered the match under intense scrutiny because of the club’s ongoing financial-rules case.
Maresca emphasised the importance of focusing on performances rather than letting outside criticism distract the squad.
The manager also recognised that his team had faced challenges in the opening stages.
However, City’s second-half improvement and ability to capitalise on Liverpool’s dismissal demonstrated their attacking quality.
The victory was particularly significant because it maintained the team’s perfect Premier League record.
Liverpool Manager Andoni Iraola Questions Referee’s Decision
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola expressed frustration at the red card shown to Ryan Gravenberch.
The Spanish coach believed his team had performed well before the dismissal and argued that the referee’s decisions affected the contest.
Liverpool had managed to restrict City for much of the opening hour.
However, the numerical disadvantage made it extremely difficult to defend against City’s attacking players.
Iraola acknowledged that Manchester City were the stronger team after the sending-off.
The result leaves Liverpool with questions about their response to setbacks and their ability to compete against the league’s leading sides.
What Does the Result Mean for the Premier League Table?
Manchester City’s victory strengthened their position at the top of the Premier League.
After six matches, City had collected 18 points from a possible 18.
The result moved them three points clear of Arsenal and maintained their perfect start under Enzo Maresca.
For Liverpool, the defeat dropped them to ninth place.
Although it is still early in the campaign, a defeat at home to a major rival is a setback.
City will hope to maintain their momentum, while Liverpool must recover quickly to avoid dropping any more points.
What Can Liverpool Learn From the Defeat?
Despite the disappointing scoreline, Liverpool can take some encouragement from their performance before the red card.
For more than an hour, they competed strongly against Manchester City.
Their pressing, midfield organisation and defensive effort helped keep the match goalless.
However, the dismissal exposed the difficulty of playing against City’s attacking quality with ten men.
Liverpool will need to improve their discipline and their ability to reorganise after unexpected setbacks.
The coaching staff will also examine how the team defended during the period when City scored three goals in just 13 minutes.
Manchester City Show Their Attacking Quality
The victory demonstrated the variety of attacking options available to Manchester City.
Haaland remains a powerful presence inside the penalty area.
Doku provides pace, dribbling ability and the confidence to attack defenders directly.
Cherki adds technical quality, movement and creativity.
Together, these players give City several different ways to create scoring opportunities.
The second-half performance also showed how quickly City can punish opponents when space becomes available.
Liverpool’s red card undoubtedly influenced the match, but City still needed to take their chances.
They did so with impressive efficiency.
Conclusion
Ryan Gravenberch’s second-half dismissal transformed the Liverpool 0–3 Manchester City match.
Liverpool competed strongly during the opening hour, but Manchester City took control after the midfielder was sent off.
Erling Haaland opened the scoring in the 65th minute before Jeremy Doku produced a superb second goal just three minutes later.
Rayan Cherki completed the victory in the 78th minute.
For Manchester City, the result maintained their perfect Premier League start and strengthened their position at the top of the table.
For Liverpool, the defeat served as a reminder of the importance of discipline and the need to respond effectively to difficult situations.
The result will be remembered for City’s attacking quality, Doku’s outstanding contribution and the controversial red card that changed the direction of the match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Liverpool vs Manchester City on 11 October 2026?
Manchester City defeated Liverpool 3–0 at Anfield.
Who scored Manchester City’s goals?
Erling Haaland scored in the 65th minute, Jeremy Doku in the 68th minute and Rayan Cherki in the 78th minute.
Why did Liverpool receive a red card?
Ryan Gravenberch was sent off in the 62nd minute after receiving a second yellow card for a challenge on Jeremy Doku.
Who is Manchester City’s manager?
Enzo Maresca was Manchester City’s manager for the match.
Who is Liverpool’s manager?
Andoni Iraola was Liverpool’s manager for the match.
Where are Manchester City in the Premier League table?
Following the victory, City were top with 18 points from six matches, three points ahead of Arsenal.
