London [UK], October 12: Uncertainty may surround Manchester City's future but nothing changed for them on the pitch as the Premier League leaders successfully came through their first public examination since being found guilty by an independent commission.
Having been subjected to a febrile atmosphere at Anfield where they were labelled cheats and booed at every opportunity, Enzo Maresca's side shrugged off the slurs relating to the numerous breaches of financial rules to beat Liverpool 3-0 on Sunday.
The way they brushed off the taunts was similar to the way the club, who have lodged an appeal, have treated the decision of the independent commission and the fact it was business as usual showed there appears to be no visible concerns from the players when it comes to delivering on the pitch.
Erling Haaland made the crucial breakthrough in front of his watching father Alfe-Inge - with the away fans waving their throwback inflatable yellow bananas - just three minutes after Ryan Gravenberch was sent off for a second bookable offence, both soft yellow cards.
Substitute Jeremy Doku, who helped turn the game the visitors' way after coming on in the 56th minute, curled home a second. Rayan Cherki rolled in a third to allow Maresca the luxury of resting Haaland with 10 minutes remaining, with their first back-to-back league wins at Anfield since January 1953 safely secured.
Liverpool fans have reason more than most to feel aggrieved at City's sham contracts which allowed them to inject £830 million ($1.09 billion) of inflated income over nine seasons, having been beaten to the title three times by their north-west rivals.
The resumption of the Premier League allowed them first go at venting their fury but they will not be the last.
However, abuse from the stands will not derail this City team, who have no association with that period. That will come in the form of a Premier League punishment should their appeal fail.
City would not have relished the trip to a ground where their record is the worst but their opponents were weakened by the absence of Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo, and dealt another blow when Dominik Szoboszlai was ruled out with a hamstring problem.
There was not a great deal of football played in the first half, but a huge amount of energy expended as the home side's high tempo pressed the life out of City with Lewis Koumas, on his full Premier League debut, and Victor Munoz particularly effective.
Marc Guehi had a testing time against both and when Rúben Dias hauled Koumas to the ground a scuffle ensured between Alexis Mac Allister and Elliot Anderson.
Liverpool's dominance of the first half - City did not have a shot until the 35th minute - began to evaporate after the break after Koumas and Gravenberch had shots parried by Gianluigi Donnarumma and Mac Allister fired wide in the space of a minute.
A dangerous Antoine Semenyo cross was cleared by Milos Kerkez before Haaland's first sight of goal, with only Alisson Becker to beat, saw the striker roll his shot wide.
But the dismissal of Gravenberch after clumsily catching the heels of Doku proved pivotal. While Liverpool waited to send on a like-for-like replacement in Trey Nyoni, one swing of Haaland's left foot effectively decided the contest.
Doku and Cherki ensured Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola's first defeat was a painful one.
Crystal Palace dealt former boss Oliver Glasner a blow after they bounced back to beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 on the Austrian's first return to Selhurst Park.
Dan Ndoye opened the scoring in the third minute of what was largely a dominant first half for the visitors, who came to rue their wasted chances when Daichi Kamada drew the sides level with his first Premier League goal in the 41st minute.
Jefferson Lerma nodded Palace into the lead in first-half stoppage time and Yeremy Pino added a cushion just before the hour mark.
It was a first home Premier League victory for boss Pierre Sage, who was appointed following the close-season exit of Glasner, the man who led Palace to trophies in the FA Cup, Community Shield and Conference League.
Hull retained their unbeaten home record since returning to the Premier League with an entertaining 2-2 draw against Everton at the MKM Stadium.
The Tigers have returned to the top flight with an unexpected bang, tasting defeat for the first time in their final fixture before the international break at the hands of Newcastle.
Substitute Mohamed Belloumi pulled the home team level in the 74th minute.
Source: Qatar Tribune
