Man City silences Liverpool fans with commanding win

Manchester City's Matheus Nunes, bottom, challenges for the ball with Liverpool's Bradley Barcola during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Manchester City in Liverpool, England. (AP)

LIVERPOOL, England, Oct 11 (AP): Manchester City players were jeered and taunted by Liverpool fans on Sunday in their first game since the club was found guilty of a raft of financial breaches.

But by the end, it was the away section, decked out in blue and waving giant inflatable bananas, cheering loudly after a 3-0 win at Anfield in the Premier League.

It is not yet known what the future holds for City after an independent panel found that the club artificially inflated its revenue by more than $1 billion to help sign some of soccer’s biggest stars and dominate the Premier League. But for now, it is sitting pretty at the top of the standings with a 100% winning record and looking down on its rivals.

Second-half goals from Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, and Rayan Cherki saw City take advantage of Liverpool going down to 10 men following a red card for Ryan Gravenberch around the hour mark.

City is the early pace-setter this season, three points ahead of defending champion Arsenal in second, with victory a welcome relief for the embattled club after the fallout from the biggest scandal in Premier League history.

After the final whistle, that relief was evident in the smiles on the faces of Haaland and coach Enzo Maresca as City’s players and staff went to show their appreciation to their celebrating fans, which included Haaland’s father, Alfie.

City was accused of providing misleading information about its finances over nine years, from 2009-18 - a span in which it won three league titles and signed superstar players like Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero, and Kevin De Bruyne.

It has appealed, but potential sanctions could include a massive fine, points deductions, or even expulsion from England’s top flight.

In many ways, a trip to Anfield to face fierce rival Liverpool in its first match since the verdicts was among the worst assignments City could have been handed. Yet such an emotionally charged game may have been the perfect way to ensure minds were focused only on the field.