Manchester City delivered a commanding response after Liverpool were reduced to 10 men, scoring three second-half goals to claim a comprehensive 3-0 victory at Anfield in the sixth week of the Premier League season.
Liverpool made the brighter start and looked the more threatening side during the opening stages, but the intensity of the contest limited clear-cut opportunities for both teams. Victor Muñoz tested Gianluigi Donnarumma, while Enzo Fernández had an effort for City, although neither goalkeeper was seriously troubled. The first half ultimately ended goalless, with both sides heading into the break level at 0-0.
Liverpool emerged with greater attacking intent after the interval, with Luis Kommas and Ryan Gravenberch forcing Donnarumma into action. City, meanwhile, gradually began to find more space in the final third, and Erling Haaland came close to breaking the deadlock in the 60th minute when his effort drifted narrowly wide.
The decisive moment arrived two minutes later when Gravenberch received his second yellow card and was sent off, leaving Liverpool with 10 players for the remainder of the contest.
City wasted little time taking advantage. In the 65th minute, Haaland opened the scoring with a powerful, low left-footed finish that beat Alisson Becker and put the visitors in front.
Just three minutes later, Jérémy Doku doubled City's advantage with an excellent strike into the corner, further underlining the visitors' ability to exploit their numerical superiority. The quick-fire goals left Liverpool facing an uphill battle, with the hosts struggling to find a way back into the game.
Rayan Cherki completed the scoring in the 78th minute, making it 3-0 and putting the result beyond doubt. City's clinical finishing after the dismissal proved decisive, as Guardiola's side turned a tightly contested encounter into a comfortable victory.
The result kept Manchester City top of the Premier League table on 18 points, while Liverpool remained ninth with nine points. For City, the emphatic win represented an impressive response to a difficult, closely fought first hour; for Liverpool, Gravenberch's dismissal proved a turning point in a match that had offered little to separate the sides before the second half.