Maresca: Manchester City must answer away noise with victories

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca says his side must learn to handle hostile atmospheres away from home, insisting their response should be to create their own “noise” by winning matches.

City produced a commanding 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield in the sixth round of the Premier League, maintaining their perfect start to the season.

Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki scored for the visitors as Manchester City moved to 18 points at the top of the table, having won all six of their league matches. Liverpool remain on nine points in ninth place.

“In the first half, we were not making the right decisions when building our attacks, but we improved in that area during the second half,” Maresca told Sky Sports.

On the atmosphere at Anfield, he said: “We have to learn how to deal with the noise from the supporters because it will be there in all our away matches. We have to handle it and create our own noise, and our noise is winning games.”

He added: “The feeling at the end of the game, with our supporters and their voices, was fantastic and different.”

“It was great to play a match in that atmosphere, amid all that noise and passion. We have to create our own atmosphere and deal with the noise from the opposition supporters,” said Maresca.

“I said during that week that we wanted the fans to show their passion and their voice, and we hoped to celebrate the victory together. That is the only thing we can focus on.”

Liverpool supporters displayed a banner before kick-off featuring former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and members of the City squad. It carried the word “thieves” alongside the number 114, referring to the 114 charges brought against Manchester City by the Premier League.

The result was Manchester City’s third consecutive Premier League win over Liverpool and their fourth successive victory against them in all competitions.

Rayan Cherki has now contributed to six of his last seven matches for club and country, scoring four goals and providing two assists. Haaland has scored nine goals in 12 appearances against Liverpool.

All of Manchester City’s players were involved in the build-up to Cherki’s goal.

Liverpool’s Lewis Koumas also became the first player to make his first Premier League start for the club against the side top of the table before kick-off since Reece Williams faced Tottenham in December 2020.