Erling Haaland has urged Manchester City to stick together after their emphatic 3-0 victory over 10-man Liverpool at Anfield, with the Norwegian striker insisting the team must focus on football amid uncertainty surrounding the club’s financial case.
Haaland opened the scoring on Sunday before Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki struck to seal a commanding win that quietened the home crowd.
The result came in City’s first match since an independent commission found the club guilty of breaching more than 100 Premier League financial regulations.
City are appealing the decision, with potential sanctions still unresolved. The case has raised questions about the club’s future, but Haaland said the players must concentrate on what they can control.
“Important to stay strong mentally, stick together and do what you can do something about,” he said. “The thing we can do something about is to play good football and fight together. That’s the only thing we can do.”
The striker described the victory as a special moment for everyone associated with the club, praising the team’s character in a fixture that is rarely straightforward.
“Every single person that is part of Man City, and every fan, this is a lovely moment that will stay with us for a long time,” Haaland said.
“It was hard, but we showed amazing character from back to front. So proud of everyone. It’s always tough to come here.”
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City’s task was made easier when Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch was sent off after receiving a second booking shortly before Haaland’s opener.
The visitors capitalised on their numerical advantage after the break, adding two more goals to complete a convincing victory and move three points clear at the top of the Premier League.
The result offered City a timely response to the scrutiny surrounding the club, although the potential consequences of the financial verdict remain uncertain.
Haaland stressed that the squad could not afford to be distracted by developments beyond the pitch, with the club’s owners and legal representatives handling the appeal.
“You want to win games, it’s as simple as that. Perform well, play good football and win games. This was a mental battle,” he said.
“Proud that we managed to stick together, we are mentally strong. Plenty of games coming up so time to recover and go again.”
Midfielder Elliot Anderson, who joined City from Nottingham Forest during the close season, also praised the team’s resilience in his first experience of the rivalry at Anfield.
“Togetherness, fight, a tough place to come and we stuck together and fought for each other. We’ve showed courage,” the England international said.
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Anderson acknowledged the intensity of the atmosphere, particularly before kickoff and during the opening stages, but felt City grew into the contest and eventually took control.
“The atmosphere was more than normal, arriving at Anfield and the first 10 minutes of the game,” he said. “We did well to quieten the crowd. Struggled first half but second, we were better and then the goals came.”
The victory strengthens their early season position at the top of the table.
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