City moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 win against 10-man Liverpool at Anfield.
Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki scored in the second half after Ryan Gravenberch was sent off for two bookable offences. Doku was involved in the opening goal and scored the second after coming on as a substitute in the 57th minute.
Doku makes difference after coming off the bench
It was a goalless first half, but Liverpool had the better of the opening stages after the break. Lewis Koumas and Gravenberch both forced saves from Gianluigi Donnarumma before Alexis Mac Allister shot narrowly wide.
City manager Enzo Maresca then replaced Iliman Ndiaye with Doku. Haaland should have put City ahead shortly afterwards when Antoine Semenyo sent him through on goal, but he shot wide.
Gravenberch was dismissed in the 62nd minute after bringing down Doku as the City winger looked to break forward. The Liverpool midfielder had been booked for a challenge on Elliot Anderson early in the second half.
City were ahead three minutes later. Doku came inside from the left, and the ball reached Haaland, who beat Alisson with a powerful finish. Doku scored City’s second in the 68th minute, cutting on to his right foot and curling the ball into the top corner.
Cherki adds third for City
City had control of the game against 10 men, and Cherki made it 3-0 with 12 minutes remaining. Elliot Anderson found Cherki, who allowed the ball to run through to Josko Gvardiol before moving into the penalty area. Gvardiol returned it and Cherki finished past Alisson.
Maresca withdrew Haaland and Enzo Fernandez in the closing stages, with City due to face Paris St-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday. Liverpool were unable to find a late consolation as City completed their sixth win from six Premier League matches.
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