City shrug off guilty verdict

If Manchester City were feeling pressure from the storm raging around the club after being found guilty of those financial breaches, there was no sign of it in a commanding victory at Anfield.

City were not unnerved at any point, even when toxicity poured down from Anfield's stands in a predictably frantic opening phase.

Within minutes, City were playing with calm control that took the heat out of the atmosphere against a Liverpool side short of ideas and lacking the class and quality of their opponents.

Elliot Anderson was a powerhouse in midfield, while Gianluigi Donnarumma produced saves when required on the rare occasions Liverpool threatened.

And once Ryan Gravenberch was sent off, City were ruthless in making the most of their numerical advantage to seal what they will regard as a statement victory.

Erling Haaland was not going to miss a second opportunity when he blazed a finish past Alisson, while Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki scored goals of the highest class, to emphasise what coach Enzo Maresca, who was jubilant at the final whistle, has at his disposal.

And yet, for all this, there is still the question of what such wins will actually mean once City have been handed their punishment and the result of their appeal is known.