Manchester City beats Liverpool 3-0 amid financial verdict controversy

Manchester City defeated Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield, extending their perfect start to the Premier League season to six points. The victory came after an independent commission found City guilty of breaching more than 100 financial regulations, a ruling the club is currently appealing.

Liverpool supporters displayed banners and chants accusing City of cheating, but the match turned in City's favour after Ryan Gravenberch was sent off in the 62nd minute. Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku scored in quick succession, and Rayan Cherki added a third to silence the crowd.

"It was not easy for the players after the last two or three weeks, but they dealt with the situation very well," Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca said after the game.

"We need to learn how to deal with the outside noise and make our own noise by winning games," Maresca added.

Haaland, the league's leading scorer, described the win as a "lovely moment" for a team facing a difficult period.

The result leaves the Premier League season in uncertainty. City leads the table with 18 points, but a failed appeal could result in point deductions, possible expulsion, or the stripping of titles won between 2009 and 2018. Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola and former players such as Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane highlighted concerns about the prolonged appeal process and its impact on the competition.

"The uncertainty is not good for anyone," Iraola said.

"There's no way this can carry on to the end of the season because we’re all getting kidded," Carragher added.

The atmosphere at Anfield underscored the tension surrounding the club's legal battles, with fans and commentators questioning the legitimacy of City’s recent successes while the league awaits a final decision.