Maresca tells Manchester City to answer financial noise with more wins after Anfield triumph

Enzo Maresca has urged Manchester City to respond to the scrutiny surrounding their financial case by continuing to win after a commanding 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield.

Sunday’s match was City’s first since they were found guilty of more than 100 alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules. Maresca’s team showed no obvious signs of being affected by the uncertainty over a potential punishment as they produced a convincing performance.

The result extended Maresca’s perfect start as Pep Guardiola’s successor. City have won all eight of their matches under the Italian and moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League.

However, the club’s title prospects could be significantly affected by the outcome of their appeal against the independent commission’s verdict.

Maresca acknowledged that the situation had created a difficult few weeks, but said his players had remained focused.

“It was not easy for the players after the last two or three weeks but they dealt with the situation very well,” he said.

“I said during the week we need to learn how to deal with the outside noise, but make our own noise, which is to win games.

“Our fans were singing at the end, so the noise was from us.”

City’s victory was secured after Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch was dismissed for two quick yellow cards shortly after the hour mark.

Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki all scored during a decisive 13-minute period. It gave City their first win at Anfield in front of a crowd since 2003.

Maresca said the result had wider importance for a club continuing to deal with the financial case.

“To win 3-0 at Anfield is a great result for sure. In this moment all the organisation needs this kind of win,” he said.

“It’s good for us as a coaching staff, the players, the organisation. This kind of win is good for all the club.”

The City manager also rejected the idea that the appeal had reduced his enjoyment of the result.

“You cannot imagine how happy I am,” Maresca said.

“I am here to try to prepare the games and win the games. Hopefully, I can speak about this situation when we win the appeal.”

For Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, the defeat was his first since taking charge. It left Liverpool ninth in the table, nine points behind City.

Liverpool were also without injured trio Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo. Iraola nevertheless argued that his side had been the stronger team before Gravenberch’s dismissal.

“There were two different games. One until the red card and one from the red card until the end,” he said.

“We were the better team until the red card and they were better than us obviously after and scored the goals.”

Manchester City’s next fixture is Wednesday’s Champions League league-phase meeting with Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad Stadium. Maresca will be hoping his side can maintain its winning run while uncertainty continues away from the pitch.