Manchester City Crush Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield Despite ‘Cheat’ Chants Amid Financial Scandal

Manchester City put their off-field troubles aside to deliver a commanding 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, responding to hostile chants and jeers with a performance that strengthened their position at the top of the Premier League.

City were playing their first match since an independent panel found the club guilty of multiple financial breaches, making the clash against one of their fiercest rivals an emotionally charged occasion. Liverpool supporters greeted the visitors with chants of “cheat, cheat” and taunts of relegation, but the defending scrutiny did little to disrupt City's rhythm on the pitch.

The breakthrough came in the second half through Erling Haaland, before Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki added further goals to complete a comprehensive win. Liverpool's task became harder after Ryan Gravenberch was sent off around the hour mark, leaving the hosts with 10 players.

The result extended City's perfect start to the season and left them three points clear of second-placed Arsenal, the defending champions. The victory offered a timely boost to a club facing serious uncertainty over the consequences of the financial verdict.

City were accused of providing misleading financial information over nine years, from 2009 to 2018, a period during which they won three Premier League titles and recruited major stars, including Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne. The panel found that the club had artificially inflated revenue by more than $1 billion, according to the report.

City have appealed against the findings. Potential sanctions could include a substantial fine, points deductions or expulsion from the Premier League, although the club's ultimate fate remains uncertain.

The controversy had fuelled anger among Liverpool supporters, some of whom argued that City should be stripped of their titles. The visitors largely avoided the home crowd by taking an alternative route to the stadium, but the hostility was unmistakable inside Anfield.

By full-time, however, City's travelling supporters were celebrating as their players acknowledged them on the pitch.

Elsewhere, newly promoted Hull City rescued a 2-2 draw against Everton through substitute Mohamed Belloumi, while Crystal Palace defeated Nottingham Forest 3-1, handing former Palace manager Oliver Glasner a disappointing return to Selhurst Park with his new club.