At 62 minutes, Liverpool were still in the game. By 68, it was gone. In Liverpool vs Manchester City, Ryan Gravenberch's red card for a second yellow after fouling Jérémy Doku flipped a tight match, and Manchester City were brutal once the door opened. Erling Haaland scored in the 65th minute, Doku added another in the 68th, and Rayan Cherki made it 3-0 in the 78th.

The swing in the 62nd minute

This was not one of those matches where the scoreline drifted in one direction over an hour. It changed fast.

Gravenberch's dismissal was the moment. The midfielder was sent off in the 62nd minute for a second yellow card after bringing down Doku, and City attacked the space and panic that followed almost straight away. Haaland scored three minutes later, then Doku struck three minutes after that.

That sequence decided the game far more than any broad tactical reading. A contest that had been cagey suddenly became open, and City have too much pace and finishing quality to survive that kind of swing against 10 men.

Cherki's goal in the 78th minute only confirmed it. By then, Liverpool were chasing shadows and City had full control of the scoreboard.

Haaland and Doku did the damage

Haaland's goal will grab the most attention because it kept his run going. He has now scored in 6 consecutive matches for the club, and he has 6 Premier League goals in 6 appearances this season.

That consistency is becoming routine again, which is a problem for the rest of the league. Give City a momentum shift, even a small one, and Haaland is usually the player who makes it feel terminal.

Doku was just as important in the decisive spell because he was involved in the red-card incident and then scored the second goal himself. His finish in the 68th minute ended any realistic route back for Liverpool. For a player with 1 goal in 2 Premier League appearances this season, it was another sharp contribution in limited league minutes.

Cherki's finish also fits a strong start to the campaign. He now has 4 goals and 2 assists in the Premier League this season, and his 78th-minute strike gave the final scoreline the look City's superiority probably deserved once they had the extra man.

Liverpool's absences and City's perfect start

Liverpool were already short of attacking help. Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo were both missing, and Jamie Carragher, quoted by goal.com, said: "There's a long way to go but I think on the back of Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo being out today you're looking for the other players to stand up. Isak and Gakpo have been Liverpool's best two attacking players."

That shortage did not cause the red card, but it did leave Liverpool with less margin for error once the game turned. Their league record now stands at 2 wins, 3 draws, 1 defeat.

City's position is much healthier. They are top of the Premier League table with 15 points from 5 matches, a perfect 5 wins from 5. Enzo Maresca's side were ruthless at the exact point the game asked them to be, and that is the clearest reason the final score at Anfield was Liverpool 0-3 Manchester City.

FAQ

Why did Liverpool collapse so quickly against Manchester City?

The key swing came in the 62nd minute when Ryan Gravenberch was sent off for a second yellow after fouling Jeremy Doku. Manchester City punished the extra man immediately. Erling Haaland scored in the 65th minute, Doku added a second in the 68th and Rayan Cherki made it 3-0 in the 78th.

How good is Erling Haaland's form for Manchester City right now?

Haaland's goal at Anfield means he has scored in 6 consecutive matches for the club. He also has 6 Premier League goals in 6 appearances this season. In this game, his finish three minutes after Gravenberch's red card set up the spell that decided the result.

Are Manchester City top of the Premier League after beating Liverpool?

Yes. Manchester City are top of the Premier League with 15 points from 5 matches after the 3-0 win at Anfield. Their league record is 5 wins from 5. The article does not go beyond that and does not state the gap to second place.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →