Thirteen Minutes Was All It Took: City Silence Anfield with a Lightning Treble

Liverpool 0–3 Manchester City

Thirteen Minutes Was All It Took: City Silence Anfield with a Lightning Treble

Dr. Talal Othman, General Manager — GCC Sport

Premier League | Round 6 | 11 October 2026

Some matches are won by endurance. Others are won with a single blow to the heart. Manchester City chose the second way at Anfield on Sunday evening. They waited sixty-five minutes, then finished the job in thirteen. The result was a 3–0 win that left Liverpool and their supporters stunned.

Match Narrative

The first half was defined by caution and little else. These two sides know each other too well, and each feared paying for the first mistake. The teams went in level at the break, and Anfield seemed set for an evening decided by fine margins.

City, though, had held their cards back. Midway through the second half the rhythm flipped, and caution gave way to a collapse the hosts could not answer.

Decisive Moments

• 65' — Erling Haaland (0–1): The Norwegian did what he always does. One chance was enough to break the deadlock.
• 68' — Jérémy Doku (0–2): Just three minutes later, before Liverpool had absorbed the first blow. The second goal felt less like an addition and more like a verdict.
• 78' — Rayan Cherki (0–3): The final nail. The Frenchman completed the treble and turned a win into a statement.

Analysis

The difference was not possession or patience. It was speed of exploitation. Three goals in thirteen minutes show that City did more than tip the balance. They struck while their opponents were still disoriented. That is the mark of elite sides: they do not wait for a second opening once the first has drawn blood.

For Liverpool, the question that lingers hurts more than the scoreline. How does a team that held firm for a full half concede three times in a quarter of an hour at home? The first goal can happen to anyone. A second three minutes later exposes a failure of mental response before it is a tactical one.

The spread of scorers, Haaland, Doku and Cherki, matters just as much. City are no longer a one-man threat. Their danger now comes from several sources, which is exactly what makes them so hard to stop.

What’s Next?

City leave Anfield with three points and something worth more: a psychological victory at one of the toughest venues in English football. Liverpool face a week of hard reflection. Holding out for an hour means little if you fall apart in fifteen minutes.

Match Card