Manchester City beats Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield amid scrutiny

Manchester City defeated Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield as the Premier League leaders secured a statement victory in a match surrounded by scrutiny over the club's financial-rule case. City won after goals from Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki, while Liverpool played with 10 men after Ryan Gravenberch's dismissal.

According to the BBC, the match was City's first since being found guilty of 114 charges related to alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules between 2009-10 and 2017-18. City have appealed the verdict, leaving the season under uncertainty.

The game remained level until Gravenberch received a second yellow card in the 62nd minute, according to Sky Sports. Haaland scored shortly afterward, Doku added another goal within six minutes, and Cherki completed the victory late in the match.

Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca said the team focused on football despite the surrounding attention.

"We knew there was going to be noise but we need to make our own noise by winning games. We need to learn to deal with the noise but the message is to win games." said Enzo Maresca, Manchester City head coach.

Maresca also said his focus remained on matters under his control as City prepared for matches during the ongoing appeal process.

"For me it's quite easy. I try to focus on things I can control. There are things that are not in my hands so I don't stress about them." said Enzo Maresca, Manchester City head coach.

"I cannot control things outside football, so why stress? I stress about gameplan, day-by-day training sessions, but the rest it's not in my hands." said Enzo Maresca, Manchester City head coach.

Haaland celebrated City's performance and highlighted the team's mentality after facing a hostile atmosphere at Anfield.

"For every single person part of Manchester City, every fan, this is a lovely moment that will stay with us for a long time. It was tough. It was hard, but we showed amazing character from back to front. So proud of everyone." said Erling Haaland.

"It's always tough to come here. If you look at the record it's tough. With the Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp era it was tough for both teams, always has been.

It was important to stay strong mentally, stick together and do what you can do something about. The thing we can do something about is to play good football and fight together. That's the only thing we can do." said Erling Haaland.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said his side competed strongly before the dismissal changed the match.

"I think the first half was good on our side, we showed a lot of intensity. We could have done maybe better on some occasions where we got on the break with them. I don't think there were massive chances, to be fair, but I think we showed that we wanted to win.

We had a lot of intensity; that was the bare minimum. Second half, we tried to do the same. Unfortunately, the red card obviously changed a big part of the game, especially when you concede that quickly afterwards as well." said Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool captain.

Van Dijk added that the sending-off was decisive, although he acknowledged the referee's decision stood.

"Probably, yeah. But the matter of fact is he gets a second yellow. I think it was interesting there was also a couple of occasions where players were asking for different yellow cards and we had one in the first minute that was cautioned by it, Ronald Araujo, and others weren't cautioned.

The matter of fact is we end up with 10 men and then concede pretty quickly after that. Then it becomes a very difficult game against them again." said Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool captain.

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola said the match changed completely after Gravenberch's red card.

"I think we played two different games: one until the red card, and one from the red card until the end. I think we were the better team until the red card and they were better than us, obviously, after the red card. But I think the players deserve credit today because they've given everything." said Andoni Iraola, Liverpool head coach.

"I think the first foul of Ryan is never a yellow card, never." said Andoni Iraola, Liverpool head coach.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher criticized the decision to dismiss Gravenberch, while Gary Neville also questioned the second booking.

"It's such a poor decision by the referee. The thing that frustrates me is that he wasn't going to give a yellow card. He only gives it when he thinks Anderson is hurt." said Jamie Carragher.

"That has nothing to do with whether a foul should or should not be a yellow card." said Jamie Carragher.

"It's barely a foul. It's a shocking decision." said Jamie Carragher.

"The first one was not a yellow card. It was so harsh for a nothing challenge on Anderson, and the referee was far too quick to get the yellow card out." said Jamie Carragher.