Man City drown out Anfield hostility with statement win, says Enzo Maresca

Manchester City responded to two weeks of intense scrutiny by beating Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield, preserving their perfect Premier League start and moving three points clear at the top of the table.

The victory came in the club’s first match since an independent commission found them guilty of 114 breaches of the league’s financial rules. City faced sustained boos and angry chants from the home support, but finished the afternoon with their own fans singing in celebration.

That was precisely the response manager Enzo Maresca had called for before the match.

“We need to learn how to deal with the outside noise because of the situation, and the noise will be always there,” Maresca said.

“But at the same time, we need to try to make our noise, and that is win games, like we have done today, because at the end of the game, our fans, they were singing, so the noise was from us, not from Liverpool.”

Maresca expects the hostility to continue during City’s away matches while the club waits for the outcome of its appeal against the financial ruling.

Sunday’s atmosphere at Anfield offered an indication of what City could encounter elsewhere. After the final whistle, Maresca embraced members of his coaching staff before joining his players in celebrating with the travelling fans.

“I think [at] all the away games there’s going to be noise,” he said.

“That’s why I’m saying that we need to learn how to deal with noise, but at the same time we need to make our noise. Our noise is: who is singing at the end? This has to be our target in this moment.”

City’s togetherness was also visible away from the pitch. Club chief executive Ferran Soriano and director of football Hugo Viana travelled to Anfield with the squad, providing a show of unity before a fixture that would have posed a major challenge even without the surrounding controversy.

“We were all together,” Maresca said. “I think for the importance of the game, Liverpool away, Anfield away, it’s a good idea from the club to be all together, the togetherness that in this moment we need.”

The manager acknowledged that the previous fortnight had been difficult for the players, but praised them for keeping their attention on football. City were challenged during the first half, before taking control after Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch was sent off in the 62nd minute.

Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki scored to complete a result Maresca said was needed across the club.

“It was not easy for the players after the last two weeks,” he said. “I think they dealt with all the situation very well.”

“In this moment, the whole organisation needs this kind of win like today,” he added. “It’s good for us coaching staff. It’s good for the players. It’s good for the fans. It’s good for the organisation.”

City deny all wrongdoing and have appealed the commission’s decision. Maresca said his focus remained on preparing the team and winning matches.

“I’m here to try to prepare for the games and win games,” he said. “I’ve said many times: hopefully, I can speak about this situation when we win the appeal.”