Jérémy Doku came off the bench to inspire Manchester City to a 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield, sparking a second-half surge that featured a red card, an Erling Haaland goal, and a stunning individual strike from the Belgian winger.
Anfield Impact From the Bench
The Premier League clash remained scoreless through a cagey first half, with Liverpool pressing before the break. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola turned to his bench in the 56th minute, introducing Doku to inject pace into the attack. The substitution altered the momentum of the match immediately, as the winger utilized his speed to stretch the home defense.
Walfoot.be reported that Doku’s introduction proved decisive just minutes after his arrival. The Belgian winger forced Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch into committing a second bookable offense, resulting in a red card in the 62nd minute that reduced the hosts to ten men.
None of City’s players recorded more touches in the opposition penalty area (7), successful dribbles (3), or created more chances (2) than the winger during the fixture.
The Decisive Second Half Blitz
With a numerical advantage secured, Manchester City capitalized quickly.
Just three minutes later, Doku added City’s second goal with a brilliant individual sequence. RTBF noted that the winger collected the ball on the left, fixed two defenders before cutting inside, and unleashed an unstoppable right-footed curling shot into the top corner past goalkeeper Alisson Becker to double the lead at 2-0.
The strike marked Doku’s first goal since the birth of his son, Praise, during the 2026 World Cup, and his first for Manchester City since May 9. The winger had previously contended with respiratory and muscular issues alongside his return to action following a calf injury sustained at the start of the campaign.
The victory was capped off in the 78th minute through a fluid team move orchestrated by Doku, which ended with French forward Rayan Cherki finishing past the Liverpool defense to seal the 3-0 scoreline, as outlined by DHnet.
Standings and Tactical Context
The win at Anfield lifts Manchester City three points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table, according to Walfoot.be. Meanwhile, Liverpool sits ninth in the standings following the home defeat, reflecting a difficult opening stretch under their current setup.
Speaking to the BBC after the final whistle, Doku reflected on his performance and the hostile environment at Anfield. Venir à Anfield est toujours intense. Mais je suis fier de mon équipe, nous avons bien géré la situation,
the winger said, while also crediting his faith for his current form, adding: Je ne veux pas m’attribuer le mérite, il y a quelqu’un au-dessus de moi qui me donne la possibilité de faire ces choses.
Manchester City now turns its attention to upcoming fixtures, maintaining preparations for their next test under the management team.
