Doku delights as Manchester City cruise past 10-man Liverpool

Enzo Maresca’s side restored their three-point lead at the top of the table in emphatic fashion – but there remains the sense that this is a season in limbo as City await their punishment, with the potential for Premier League expulsion, relegation or record points deductions.

Liverpool fans made their feelings known before and during the game with constant “cheat” jibes, but City, who have appealed against the verdict of an independent commission, responded with a measured display before picking Liverpool apart, who had been reduced to 10 men when Ryan Gravenberch was sent off.

Erling Haaland broke the deadlock with a thunderous finish after 65 minutes, substitute Jeremy Doku adding the second with a stunning strike into the top corner three minutes later.

And City confirmed their vast superiority when Rayan Cherki produced brilliant individual skill to make it 3-0 12 minutes from time.

The game opened in a predictably fevered atmosphere as the Kop delivered taunts about the guilty verdict, unfurling banners emblazoned with messages such as ‘A Generation Of Supporters Cheated’, while City fans responded backing their owners by brandishing a flag reading ‘In Khaldoon We Trust’.

Once the initial sound and fury died down, the first half was an anti-climax as City slowed the game to combat the hostile environment while Liverpool struggled to make a breakthrough.

The second half showed more signs of life, with City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma saving from Victor Munoz and Gravenberch in swift succession, while Haaland held his head in anguish after rolling a chance wide when clean through.

Gravenberch’s dismissal, given a second yellow card for a foul on Doku, left Liverpool with an uphill task as City moved through the gears to win with ease.

If Manchester City were feeling pressure from the storm raging around the club after being found guilty of those financial breaches, there was no sign of it in a commanding victory at Anfield.

City were not unnerved at any point, even when toxicity poured down from Anfield’s stands in a predictably frantic opening phase.

Within minutes, City were playing with calm control that took the heat out of the atmosphere against a Liverpool side short of ideas and lacking the class and quality of their opponents.

Elliot Anderson was a powerhouse in midfield, while Donnarumma produced saves when required on the rare occasions Liverpool threatened.

And once Gravenberch was sent off, City were ruthless in making the most of their numerical advantage to seal what they will regard as a statement victory.

Haaland was not going to miss a second opportunity when he blazed a finish past Alisson, while Doku and Cherki scored goals of the highest class, to emphasise what coach Maresca, who was jubilant at the final whistle, has at his disposal.

And yet, for all this, there is still the question of what such wins will actually mean once City have been handed their punishment and the result of their appeal is known.

Liverpool’s hopes of piling further misery on embattled Manchester City foundered on a lack of resources through injury – and a lack of quality from big-money players they hoped would step up.

Head coach Andoni Iraola suffered without those injured during the international break, with Alexander Isak, Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo all missing.

Despite the noisy support of Liverpool’s fans fired up by Manchester City’s presence, they could not sustain any momentum.

Spain winger Victor Munoz was a glowing exception, but Liverpool must expect far more from £116m Florian Wirtz, as well as £123m summer signing Bradley Barcola.

Wirtz, as he has done for most of his Liverpool career, looked lightweight and off the pace, an easy proposition for City in the physical challenges. It was no surprise when he was substituted after 66 minutes.

Barcola also failed to last the course after an afternoon spent losing possession and running up blind alleys. He may still be adjusting to the Premier League – but there is no such explanation for the bitterly disappointing Wirtz.