Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City have begun their Premier League campaign with an unbroken run of victories, and their 3-0 win at Liverpool on Sunday showed they can handle pressure as well as expectation. The match at Anfield was City’s first since an independent commission found the club guilty of 114 charges related to serious breaches of Premier League financial regulations between 2009-10 and 2017-18, though City deny wrongdoing and have appealed.
Erling Haaland emerged as the focal point of City’s response. The Norwegian striker, who joined City in 2022, opened the scoring in the 65th minute, three minutes after Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch was sent off for a second bookable offence. Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki added further goals as City secured a sixth consecutive league win.
Haaland’s goal was his sixth of the Premier League season and his 118th in 138 league appearances for City. His overall record for the club now stands at 169 goals in 205 appearances, underlining his importance to Maresca’s side.
Maresca’s tactical approach, rooted in the fine details and day-to-day work that defined Pep Guardiola’s era, has been instrumental in City’s early success. His side combined control and clinical finishing at Anfield, with Maresca describing the performance as the “perfect away performance.”
Maresca’s insistence that his players focus on what they can control reflected a pragmatic mindset. “I don’t stress about things I can’t control,” he said after the match, while also defending his players’ celebrations in the face of criticism.
The financial verdict has introduced an element of unpredictability. City have appealed the decision, and no sanction has yet been handed down, though a severe points deduction, relegation or even expulsion from the Premier League remain possibilities depending on the outcome.
With Arsenal as the only side within touching distance, City’s ability to maintain this rhythm will shape the title race. The 3-0 win moved them three points clear at the top of the table, while Liverpool fell nine points behind the leaders after their first defeat of the season.
Maresca’s appointment as Guardiola’s successor was never guaranteed to be smooth, but his ability to deliver immediate results has silenced early doubters. Six wins from six matches levelled him with Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for the longest winning streak to begin a managerial reign in Premier League history.
The perfect start is a testament to his leadership, but the real measure of his tenure will come in how he navigates the challenges ahead. With Haaland leading the line and a squad that has already shown its depth, Manchester City’s immediate focus is on maintaining momentum while the appeal process continues.
