Liverpool vs Man City player ratings: Florian Wirtz struggles in tough outing for the Reds

Manchester City extended their perfect start to the season with a statement win at Anfield, beating Liverpool and inflicting the first defeat on Andoni Iraola’s side. Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki scored the goals, and Liverpool had been reduced to 10 men before the decisive spell.

Haaland finished emphatically to give City the lead, despite missing a huge chance early in the second half. Doku, who came on for Iliman Ndiaye on 56 minutes, added a stunning strike, and Cherki capped the afternoon with a lovely goal. Elliot Anderson provided the assist for Doku.

Ryan Gravenberch was Liverpool’s best player until he was sent off for a second yellow card, a moment the reviewer described as naive. That changed the game. City grew stronger with the extra man, and their attack proved too much for a side now defending with ten.

Liverpool

Alisson (5): Could do nothing to stop Haaland’s strike, then was beaten by a beauty from Doku and some solid footwork from Cherki.

Ronald Araujo (5): Picked up a cheap early yellow card and will be annoyed that the first two City goals came from his side.

Virgil van Dijk (6): Often pushed out of position to help Liverpool cope with being outnumbered in midfield. Could perhaps have closed Haaland down quicker.

Jeremy Jacquet (6): A young talent who impressed, though this was likely an eye-opener against a quality City attack.

Milos Kerkez (5): Battled well with Ndiaye and pushed up regularly, but lacked quality in the final third.

Alexis Mac Allister (5): Grew into the game and put in a good shift, but struggled once Liverpool were reduced to 10 men.

Ryan Gravenberch (6): Came in for the injured Dominik Szoboszlai and was Liverpool’s best player until his second yellow card.

Victor Munoz (7): Played with real fearlessness and was an absolute nuisance for City, causing Nico O’Reilly all sorts of problems.

Florian Wirtz (4): Has to do better, particularly in games of this magnitude. Was largely ineffective and made some poor decisions.

Bradley Barcola (5): Sharp on the ball and did his defensive duties, but, like Wirtz, must do more in the final third.

Lewis Koumas (7): Making his first Premier League start, the 21-year-old got stuck in from the outset in an energetic display that the Anfield crowd loved.

Manchester City

Gianluigi Donnarumma (7): Had a shaky start but made a string of good saves early in the second half to deny Koumas and Gravenberch and keep the game level.

Matheus Nunes (7): An impressive display, including a great tackle in the box to deny Barcola in the first half.

Ruben Dias (7): Did well to weather the early storm and keep Liverpool out.

Marc Guehi (7): A strong performance at centre-half. He and Dias can take satisfaction from the way they defended, especially when Liverpool attacked the Kop end.

Nico O’Reilly (6): Solid going forward but had his work cut out against Munoz and was booked for fouling him in the second half.

Elliot Anderson (7): Always showed for the ball and was constantly involved. Lucky not to be booked for pulling back Gravenberch, and got the assist for Doku.

Enzo Fernandez (6): Forced Alisson into a good stop in the first half but did not really grow into the game until Gravenberch was sent off.

Iliman Ndiaye (6): Dangerous on the ball and had a few threatening moments before he was replaced by Doku.

Rayan Cherki (8): Capped off a day to remember for City with a lovely goal.

Antoine Semenyo (7): Threatening all afternoon and part of an attack that was simply too good for Liverpool once City had the man advantage.

Erling Haaland (8): Had a quiet first half and missed a huge chance early in the second, but finished emphatically to give City the lead.

Jeremy Doku (8): Came on and scored an absolute belter.