Manchester City delivered a defiant response to their recent backlash as two quickfire goals set them on their way to a rampant 3-0 win over Liverpool, keeping Enzo Maresca's side top of the Premier League with a perfect six wins from six.
Playing for the first time since their guilty verdict was handed down, City remained unbeaten to repel a hostile Anfield, which fell silent as the contest went on. Erling Haaland's strike on 65 minutes put them ahead, with Jeremy Doku curling home a stunning effort three minutes later to leave 10-man Liverpool reeling and still waiting for a first home league win this season. Rayan Cherki completed the romp with ten minutes left, standing Eric Cantona-like on an afternoon of defiance for the visitors.
First-half frustration
In a tame first half, which had plenty of energy in the stands but minimal quality on the pitch, Victor Munoz showed promise down the right but couldn't take advantage of his good positions. Enzo Fernandez's effort from range on 35 minutes, which was simple enough for Alisson, was City's first shot of the game.
If City's plan was to take the sting out of the game, then they succeeded. They quickly settled into their possession-based game, although the Anfield crowd were keen to push the Liverpool players onto their opponents. Liverpool's more direct approach allowed them to look a match for City. Lewis Koumas had the game's first major chance early in the second half, but his strike was saved strongly by Gianluigi Donnarumma in front of the Kop.
Haaland atones and Doku dazzles
Haaland finally got the chance he and City will have been praying for, but with Alisson bearing down on him his effort trickled wide, leaving the Norwegian with his head in his hands. He would atone shortly after. Ryan Gravenberch's dismissal sparked further hope into City, the Dutchman receiving his second yellow after hauling down Doku as he broke clear. That blow was furthered when Haaland hammered home first time, reacting quickest to a Doku blocked shot, his father in the away end rejoicing his son's moment.
Doku, who starred against Liverpool last season, continued his stunning cameo after appearing from the bench as the Belgian curled home a brilliant effort to double City's advantage and effectively kill the game.
Perfect timing
If they've destroyed the integrity of the Premier League and if they're everyone's idea of cheats, they certainly don't seem to care. This was a performance of defiance from a group of players who will have felt the anger from the country's football fans over the past fortnight. The perfect away-day showing came at the perfect time as City recorded back-to-back wins at Anfield, a place they've found success hard to come by, for the first time since the 1970s.
The away supporters were cheering every pass come the 75th minute. If that doesn't underline confidence then I'm not sure what does, as Maresca became just the fourth manager in Premier League history to win six from six to begin a job - a feat Pep Guardiola himself achieved. Haaland claimed in the build-up that City's fans would have a good time in Merseyside; he wasn't wrong, and he did his bit to ensure they would be doing the Poznan at Anfield. Quite what this means for the future is up to the Premier League authorities, who must know that a City title would be a horrific look in light of recent events, but that is becoming a genuine possibility based on afternoons like this.
£100m men outshone
In a forward line that consisted of Koumas, Munoz, Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola, you'd have expected the latter two, both costing more than £100m each, to set the tone and be the most influential of the Liverpool players. Instead, quite the opposite. Deputising for Alexander Isak, Koumas by no means looked out of his depth and led the line impressively, which allowed everything else to flow behind him. Munoz was the most threatening, especially in the first half, which will have been a positive for Iraola. What won't have been a positive was more underwhelming showings from those playing with the biggest price tags.
The desire to see Wirtz perform is immense, especially from the Reds' fanbase, but even at this early stage of the season conclusions are being drawn over what the German can consistently produce. And it is not what you'd want from a £116m player, who was hauled off around the hour mark. Barcola is afforded a degree of patience given his summer move, but more will have been expected, especially as he was up against a converted right-back in Matheus Nunes.
City's new reality
In their post-guilty era, subject of course to the result of an appeal, the hostilities and chants that City had to face on Sunday afternoon will likely follow them round all season. The uncertainty over what next is not ideal for anyone, especially with Maresca's side so competitive at the top. With the possible exception of the Emirates, playing at Anfield will see City come up against the fans who are perhaps most rattled by their actions. The sense of 'what if' drove the Anfield crowd, and their feeling was evident by the host of banners they had flying about.
City have never been loved, but now they're actively disliked. If anything, their style of play, which often sees them taking the sting out of games by keeping hold of the ball, will take on even more importance. Quietening away grounds may well become one of their most important tasks when they travel for the foreseeable. How they react and embrace being Public Enemy No 1 could well define their season.
