Man City beat 10-man Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield after the Gravenberch red card changed the game, with three second-half goals.
Erling Haaland opened the scoring in the 65th minute, Jeremy Doku doubled the lead in the 68th and Rayan Cherki added the third in the 78th. Gravenberch had received his second yellow card in the 62nd minute.
A level first half before the Gravenberch red card
The teams reached the interval at 0-0. Liverpool had threatened through Victor Munoz, while Alisson saved an Enzo Fernandez effort as City looked for an opening.
Liverpool created further chances soon after the restart. Gianluigi Donnarumma denied Lewis Koumas and Gravenberch, with Alexis Mac Allister then sending a shot wide.
At the other end, Milos Kerkez made an important block and Haaland missed a chance before the breakthrough. The match remained goalless until Ryan Gravenberch was sent off.
Gravenberch red card precedes City’s goals
Gravenberch’s second booking came for a challenge on Doku. The City substitute had entered the game in the 56th minute and played a part in the dismissal and the opening two goals.
Doku’s blocked shot reached Haaland, who finished powerfully to put the visitors ahead. Doku then cut inside and curled a shot into the top corner himself.
The quick change in the score left Liverpool facing a two-goal deficit with 10 men. City’s numerical advantage and finishing had turned a close contest into a difficult recovery task for the hosts.
Cherki adds the final goal
Long after the Gravenberch red card, Anderson, Cherki and Gvardiol combined for the third. Cherki allowed a pass to run through before moving into the area to receive Gvardiol’s return ball and score.
City’s official completed match report confirms the 3-0 result and all three scorers. The BBC match-event feed corroborates the goal times and Gravenberch’s dismissal.
After the Gravenberch red card, the result gives City six league wins from six and 18 points. For Liverpool, the result brings a defeat after the first half had offered chances without either side scoring.
Liverpool had opportunities before falling behind. After the dismissal, the visitors converted the chances that decided the result. More from us: Liverpool news and Man City news.
Featured image: Rayan Cherki celebrates City’s third at Anfield. Manchester City official website
