Manchester City put off-field problems aside and inflict a heavy first defeat on Liverpool under Iraola

Iraola was without his two most in-form attackers, Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak, who both picked up injuries during the international break. Young Lewis Koumas led the line in his first Premier League start. City, also missing the suspended Phil Foden, made only one change, with Nico O’Reilly replacing Joško Gvardiol at left-back.

Liverpool started more brightly, backed by an enthusiastic home crowd, but chances were scarce in the first half. The best opportunities came just after the break, when Gianluigi Donnarumma twice denied the hosts, while Alexis Mac Allister fired just wide. City’s biggest chance before the opener fell to Haaland, who shot wide after being set up by Antoine Semenyo.

The decisive moment came in the 62nd minute, when referee Chris Kavanagh showed Gravenberch a harsh second yellow card for a challenge on Doku, who had come on in the 56th minute. Three minutes later, Haaland pounced on a blocked Doku shot to open the scoring from around ten metres.

Doku doubled the lead three minutes after that, cutting in from the left and curling a superb right-footed strike under the crossbar. In the 78th minute, Cherki sealed the win, exchanging passes with Gvardiol before calmly beating Jeremie Frimpong and slotting past Alisson.