Liverpool 0-3 Man City: Doku changes game

Jeremy Doku made a decisive contribution from the bench as Manchester City beat Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield on Sunday 11 October 2026. The Belgian was fouled by Ryan Gravenberch for the midfielder’s second booking, then featured in the attacks that brought goals for Erling Haaland, himself and Rayan Cherki. A Premier League contest that remained goalless beyond the hour was settled by the visitors’ finishing against ten men, giving City a sixth consecutive league win on their return from the international break.

Liverpool’s opening pressure made this a demanding assignment for Enzo Maresca’s side, with the frantic early exchanges allowing neither team much fluency. Nico O’Reilly returned at left-back as City tried to contain the hosts. Victor Munoz threatened after exchanging passes with Florian Wirtz, his effort taking a deflection into the side netting. Munoz then tested Gianluigi Donnarumma again with a drive that the goalkeeper gathered, providing Liverpool with another route towards goal before the interval.

City gradually became more comfortable in possession and gave Alisson work of his own. Enzo Fernandez struck from distance, forcing the Liverpool goalkeeper to secure the ball at the second attempt. Alisson also intervened to cut out an Elliot Anderson cross before it could reach its target. Those attacks gave the visitors a foothold after Liverpool’s stronger opening, but neither side could find a first-half finish, leaving the match finely balanced as the teams went in for the break.

Gravenberch dismissal precedes three decisive attacks

Liverpool renewed their threat soon after the restart. Donnarumma parried attempts from Lewis Koumas and Gravenberch, while Alexis Mac Allister sent another effort narrowly wide. City then created chances at the opposite end through Antoine Semenyo: Milos Kerkez blocked Iliman Ndiaye as he tried to finish the forward’s delivery into the box, and Haaland subsequently reached a Semenyo through ball only to direct his shot just outside the post. Both teams had opportunities to break the deadlock before the sending-off.

Maresca introduced Doku for Ndiaye in the 56th minute, and Gravenberch’s late challenge on the substitute brought a second yellow card. City’s opening goal followed shortly afterwards. Doku carried the ball into the penalty area and cut inside to shoot, with Mac Allister blocking the attempt. The loose ball fell to Haaland, who reacted quickly and drove it into the net. Liverpool had stopped the initial shot but could not clear the danger before the striker supplied the forceful finish.

Doku scored the second himself soon after Haaland’s breakthrough. Again moving infield, he created the space to curl a shot into the upper corner, beating Alisson and putting Liverpool two goals behind. Unlike the opener, there was no need for a follow-up: the winger’s own finish completed the attack. The quick succession of goals left the home side chasing the match with a player fewer, after more than an hour in which neither defence had conceded.

Cherki added the third in the 78th minute, completing a move involving Doku and Josko Gvardiol. Running on to Gvardiol’s ball, the Frenchman used a step-over and then a dragback to evade Jeremie Frimpong inside the area before finishing underneath Alisson. Gvardiol had replaced O’Reilly during the second half, while Liverpool had introduced Frimpong for Ronald Araujo. The goal therefore brought together another City substitute’s pass and Cherki’s close control against a recently changed Liverpool defence.

Maresca identifies improvements as City extend their lead

Maresca’s assessment afterwards distinguished between the two halves rather than presenting the afternoon as uninterrupted control. He was dissatisfied with City’s first-half work without the ball and with aspects of their build-up, saying both improved following adjustments at the interval. He also stressed the need to handle the noise at away grounds and respond through results. Haaland, meanwhile, praised the players’ character and togetherness in a difficult environment. The victory was City’s second successive league win at Anfield, their first such sequence since January 1953.

City finished the day top with 18 points from six matches, three ahead of second-placed Arsenal, and remained the only Premier League side with a perfect record. Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool suffered their first league defeat and were nine points behind the leaders. City’s next assignment was at home to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday 14 October, with a 20.00 UK kick-off in the Champions League. They would enter that second league-phase match against the reigning European champions having won their opener 2-0 at Porto.