Manchester City defeated Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield in the Premier League, handing Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola his first loss in charge, according to BBC Sport. Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki each found the net for the visitors.
The result came in City's first match since a guilty verdict, a context noted by Sky Sports, which described the win as a defiant statement from the league leaders. The Telegraph framed the same match around the verdict, while The Guardian reported on the atmosphere at Anfield, including tension, banners and inflatable bananas in the away section.
BBC Sport published player ratings for both sides after the match. The ratings reflect how the game turned once Liverpool were reduced to ten men.
Why it matters
The defeat is Iraola's first since taking over at Liverpool, and it arrived against the club's most direct rival for the title. City, described by Sky Sports as the Premier League leaders, left Anfield with a three-goal margin and a clean sheet.
For Liverpool, the match turned on Ryan Gravenberch's dismissal. BBC's ratings note that the midfielder, who came in for the injured Dominik Szoboszlai, had been Liverpool's strongest performer until he picked up a second yellow card. BBC described the sending-off as naive on his part. Once Liverpool were a man down, City's attacking quality told.
The game also carried weight beyond the table. Sky Sports reported it was City's first fixture since a guilty verdict, and the away support's reception at Anfield was the subject of separate reporting by The Guardian.
How the game turned
BBC's ratings single out Gravenberch as Liverpool's best player before his red card, and his exit reshaped the contest. Alexis Mac Allister, rated 5, grew into the match but struggled after Liverpool went down to ten, according to BBC. Virgil van Dijk, also rated 6, was often pulled out of position as Liverpool tried to cope with being outnumbered in midfield, and BBC suggested he might have closed Haaland down faster.
Haaland received an 8, the highest rating in the piece. BBC noted he had a quiet first half and missed a significant chance early in the second before scoring emphatically to put City ahead. Alisson, rated 5, could not stop Haaland's strike, was then beaten by what BBC called a beauty from Doku, and was finally undone by Cherki's footwork.
At the other end, Gianluigi Donnarumma, rated 7, had a shaky beginning but produced a run of saves early in the second half to keep out Lewis Koumas and Gravenberch while the game was still level. BBC's ratings credit those stops with preserving the deadlock.
Koumas, making his first Premier League start at 21, earned a 7 for an energetic performance that BBC said the Anfield crowd appreciated. Victor Munoz also received a 7, with BBC describing him as fearless and a constant problem for City, particularly for Nico O'Reilly.
City's defensive and midfield showings
BBC rated Marc Guehi and Matheus Nunes at 7. Guehi was praised alongside Ruben Dias for the way City defended, especially when Liverpool attacked the Kop end. Nunes drew credit for an important tackle in the box that stopped Bradley Barcola in the first half.
Elliot Anderson, also a 7, was constantly available for the ball and provided the assist for Doku's goal, though BBC noted he was fortunate not to be booked for pulling Gravenberch back. Antoine Semenyo, rated 7, was a threat throughout and part of an attack BBC judged simply too strong for Liverpool once City had the extra man.
O'Reilly received a 6. BBC said he was solid going forward but had a difficult afternoon against Munoz and was booked for fouling the Spaniard in the second half. Enzo Fernandez, a 6, forced a good save from Alisson in the first half but did not fully settle into the match until Gravenberch's dismissal. Iliman Ndiaye, a 6, was dangerous on the ball and had threatening moments before Doku replaced him.
On Liverpool's side, Ronald Araujo was rated 5. BBC noted he picked up an early yellow card and would be frustrated that City's first two goals originated from his flank. Jeremy Jacquet, a 6, put in a respectable display for a young player BBC called very impressive, but the ratings describe the match as a real eye-opener against a strong City attack. Milos Kerkez, a 5, competed well against Ndiaye and got forward often but lacked quality in the final third.
Florian Wirtz received the lowest rating in the piece, a 4. BBC said he simply has to do better, particularly in matches of this size, and described him as largely ineffective with some poor decisions. Barcola, a 5, was sharp on the ball and handled his defensive work but, like Wirtz, needs to contribute more in the final third.
BBC noted that the displayed scores represent the average of all submissions by BBC Sport users once the rating window closed.
What to watch
Liverpool must respond without Gravenberch, who will be suspended, and with questions over how Iraola's side creates in the final third against elite opposition. City, meanwhile, will look to carry the Anfield result into their next fixture as they defend their position at the top of the table.
