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| FILE PHOTO: The FA Cup soon follows suit. |
Manchester City Beat Liverpool 3-0 as Maresca Urges Players to Ignore Noise
LIVERPOOL — October 11, 2026
Manchester City strengthened their position at the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on October 11, as manager Enzo Maresca praised his players for staying focused amid growing pressure over the club’s financial-rule case.
Manchester City arrived at Anfield facing intense criticism after an independent commission found the club guilty of 114 breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules. The match was their first since the decision, and Liverpool supporters greeted them with loud boos and hostile chants.
Maresca had told his players to respond by concentrating on their performance rather than the criticism surrounding the club. He said the team needed to learn to handle the pressure and create its own noise by winning matches.
The manager said he expected a similar reception at other away grounds while City await the outcome of their appeal against the financial-rule verdict. He pointed to the reaction of City supporters at the final whistle as the response he wanted from his team.
“Who is singing at the end?” Maresca said, describing the question as a target for the players during the current period of uncertainty.
The club also showed a united front before the match. Chief executive Ferran Soriano and director of football Hugo Viana travelled with the squad to Liverpool, underlining the club’s support for the team during a difficult period.
Maresca said bringing the club’s senior figures together with the players and coaching staff was a good decision given the importance of the fixture. He stressed that unity was particularly important while City faced pressure away from the pitch.
On the field, City found the first half difficult but took control after Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch was sent off in the 62nd minute. Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki scored to secure a convincing victory.
Maresca praised his players for managing the difficult circumstances over the previous two weeks and keeping their attention on football. He said the result was important for the coaching staff, the players, the supporters and the wider club.
Manchester City have denied wrongdoing and appealed the commission’s decision. The legal dispute remains unresolved, leaving the team to manage continued scrutiny while competing for the Premier League title.
