Manchester City struggled for a bit, then made the most of their numerical advantage after Gravenberch was sent off and scored a couple of goals. Against Liverpool, who were struggling with injuries (Szoboszlai, Gakpo and Isak were missing), Maresca's team took the lead midway through the second half with a brilliant goal from Haaland. A few minutes later, Doku scored the second goal, before Cherki made it 3-0. In the afternoon's matches, Crystal Palace won; Hull City and Everton drew 2-2.
The first half at Anfield was very disappointing, with both teams making many mistakes, especially from a technical point of view. Liverpool had their best chance in the 24th minute, without Isak, Szoboszlai and Gakpo, with Jacquet, whose right-footed shot from a corner was saved by Donnarumma. Enzo Fernandez and Semenyo tried from distance for Maresca's team, but were unsuccessful.
In the second half, Liverpool increased their pace and immediately became dangerous with Koumas, Barcola and Gravenberch, but the Italian goalkeeper was, as always, safe between the posts. In the 60th minute, Manchester City had their first real chance: Semenyo found Haaland with a brilliant through ball, but the striker, alone against Alisson, shot wide of the box. However, the game changed in the 62nd minute, when Liverpool were reduced to ten men due to Gravenberch being sent off, who received a second yellow card for a foul on Doku. It was the Belgian, who had changed the game since entering the field, who became the protagonist in the action of his team's first goal: the former Rennes player faced Araujo, shot towards the goal and the ball, after being deflected, ended up on Haaland's left foot, who beat Alisson with a brilliant left-footed shot.
At Anfield, it's already the spectacle of Doku. The winger takes the ball from Anderson, moves towards the center to hit it with his right foot and launches a powerful shot from outside the area, which ends under the crossbar. In the 68th minute, the score is 2-0 for City, who within a few minutes have oriented the game in their favor. In the 78th minute, the third goal comes, this time with Cherki, who finishes a very beautiful action by his team, bringing Frimpong to the ground and beating Alisson with a low right-footed shot. The last minutes are simply game management by Manchester City, which destroys Liverpool and goes to the quota of 18 points in the standings, three points more than Arsenal. Liverpool remains at the quota of 9 points and, between physical problems and changes, still has to find the right mechanisms of the game.
In the afternoon matches, Crystal Palace wins 3-1 against Nottingham Forest of his former coach Oliver Glasner (Ndoye, Kamada, Lerma, Pino); while the match between Everton and Hull City ends 2-2 (Gelhardt, Dewsbury-Hall, Barry, Belloumi).
