Manchester City beat Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield on Sunday in its first match since an independent commission found the club guilty of financial rule breaches, with goals from Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki sealing a result that pushed City’s unbeaten Premier League start to six games under manager Enzo Maresca.
The commission upheld 114 of 115 charges against Manchester City, ruling that the club artificially reduced costs and inflated revenues by more than £900 million between 2009 and 2018 through what the panel called “sham” sponsorship contracts, according to CBS Sports. Manchester City is appealing the verdict and continues to maintain its innocence while the club and league await a decision on sanctions, which could range from a points deduction to relegation.
City Delivers A Statement Result
Liverpool fans greeted the Manchester City team bus with banners reading “Cheats” and “Shamchester City” before kickoff, forcing the bus to alter its usual route to Anfield, CBS Sports reported. Manchester City fans responded by bringing inflatable bananas into the away end, a tradition that dates to the 1987-88 relegation season, using it to mock the possibility of the club dropping down a division as a result of the sanctions.
None of it affected the performance on the pitch. Manchester City managed just 0.07 expected goals in the first half, its worst first-half xG total in a Premier League match since a 0.06 mark against Manchester United in March 2020, per ESPN. Liverpool then had a player sent off, and Manchester City broke through just two minutes and 37 seconds later. The visitors scored three times after halftime against a Liverpool side that played the second half with 10 men.
What The Result Means For The Title Race
Manchester City entered the match five wins from five and already top of the Premier League table, six points clear of Liverpool. A Liverpool win would have cut that gap in half. Instead, Manchester City extended its advantage and remained perfect through six league matches under Maresca, who became the fourth manager in Premier League history to win his first six games in charge, joining Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea, Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United.
Haaland’s goal was his 27th career Premier League strike against “Big Six” opponents, six more than any other player since he arrived at City in 2022-23. Doku, who came off the bench, became the first substitute to score at Anfield in the Premier League since Rodrigo Muniz did it for Fulham in December 2024.
Guardiola’s Message Before The Match
Guardiola posted a message of support for the club during the international break ahead of the Liverpool trip. “I want every single Manchester City fan across the world to know I am here, more than ever,” Guardiola wrote, according to CBS Sports. “I am, always have been, always will be behind my club, my owner, my chairman, Ferran [Soriano], the players, staff, [manager] Enzo [Maresca] and you, our unique supporters.
Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all.”
The club was found guilty at the end of September of charges spanning the 2009-10 through 2017-18 seasons, with the panel alleging inflated revenues, concealed losses and false evidence presented by club staff during the hearings, according to USA Today.
Context: Success Amid The Violations
The period covered by the guilty verdict overlaps with three Premier League titles for Manchester City. The club went on to win five of the following six league titles, along with the 2023 Champions League and five domestic cups, a run of success now shadowed by the commission’s findings. More on the process is detailed in Total Apex Sports’ coverage of the Man City appeal process and the Man City HMRC letter that adds further tax risk.
What’s Next
Manchester City’s appeal of the verdict remains pending, and no timeline has been set for when sanctions will be determined. Phil Foden sat out the Liverpool match due to suspension, while Nico O’Reilly carried fitness doubts after picking up a knock during the international break, per Yahoo Sports. Total Apex Sports previously covered reaction to the ruling in Carrick urges speed after Man City guilty verdict and the wider fallout in Manchester City’s appeal over material errors.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
