Match report: Liverpool beaten by Manchester City in PL clash at Anfield

The complexion of an even contest that was short on real chances was changed irrevocably midway through the second half.

Ryan Gravenberch was sent off for receiving a second yellow card, which was followed by goals from Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku.

Rayan Cherki later added to the visitors’ advantage from close range as the Reds were consigned to a first defeat of 2026-27.

Team

Andoni Iraola selected Lewis Koumas as the focal point of his attack, a first Premier League start for the Wales international.

A hamstring complaint meant Dominik Szoboszlai joined Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak in being sidelined.

Liverpool: Alisson, Van Dijk, Jacquet (Gomez, 88), Kerkez, Wirtz (Nyoni, 66), Mac Allister, Munoz, Barcola (Chiesa, 88), Araujo (Frimpong, 75), Gravenberch, Koumas (Ngumoha, 75).

Unused subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, Tsimikas, McConnell.

First half

Anfield was primed to welcome back the Reds after a break of exactly three weeks since their last fixture.

There was energy and bite to the early exchanges but no chances of note.

Indeed, the 20-minute mark arrived with only the need for saving interventions by Jeremy Jacquet and Matheus Nunes – to stifle Cherki and Bradley Barcola respectively – the modest threats in either penalty box.

The pattern largely continued, aside from a Victor Munoz cross-shot that was deflected behind off Nico O’Reilly.

Alexis Mac Allister hooked the ball off target from a corner into the City area that was not cleared and a low Munoz hit from 20 yards was a simple take for Gianluigi Donnarumma.

There was a little more for Alisson Becker to do soon after, as the Liverpool No.1 claimed an Enzo Fernandez snap-shot.

The interval arrived with stalemate very much in place, though.

Second half

That finally almost changed within three minutes of the restart.

Barcola nudged a pass forward to Koumas in space in the centre of City territory and his strike deflected off Marc Guehi and was palmed away by Donnarumma.

Immediately after, Gravenberch’s whack from range was saved and Mac Allister curled narrowly wide of the right post at a similar distance.

The latter turned a Florian Wirtz set-piece into the near post wide as the Reds attempted to turn the screw, before a major City opportunity.

Antoine Semenyo’s reverse pass sprung Haaland into a one-on-one versus Alisson and the Norwegian’s dinked attempt drifted off target.

Two minutes past the hour, Liverpool were reduced to 10 men.

Gravenberch’s attempts to halt Doku launching a counter-attack led to a second yellow card for the midfielder and his dismissal.

City pressed home their numerical advantage with a pair of quickfire goals.

First, a Doku dribble into the area saw the ball spin into the middle and Haaland pounced with a fierce hit into the left side of the net.

Doku himself then picked out the opposite top corner with an arcing finish over Alisson having again moved infield from the left flank.

The Reds’ disappointment was compounded 10 minutes later, with Cherki converting from close range after Josko Gvardiol’s flicked assist.

Attendance: 60,338