Manchester City recorded a sixth straight Premier League win on Sunday, as they triumphed 3-0 over Liverpool.
Here are our Scout Notes from Anfield.
SZOBOSZLAI INJURY LATEST
In addition to the known injuries to Alexander Isak (£9.0m) and Cody Gakpo (£7.2m), Liverpool were also without Dominik Szoboszlai (£6.9m) on Sunday.
The 29.4%-owned midfielder missed out with a minor hamstring issue…
“Dom came from the national team with tiredness and overload. We put him as a floater in the training session to try to protect him, but he was not feeling okay.
“It is something very small but now we play four games in 10 days, so it’s going to be difficult because now we fly to Austria in two days. I think it’s going to be difficult to recover any of the injured players.” – Andoni Iraola on Dominik Szoboszlai
Liverpool will look to bounce back from this defeat when they take on Austrian side LASK in the Champions League on Wednesday. That’s followed by a trip to Brentford in Gameweek 7.
Image from Legomane
Ryan Gravenberch (£5.8m) meanwhile will serve a one-match ban and miss Gameweek 7 after his red card at Anfield.
DOKU “VERY GOOD”
After a forgettable first 45 minutes, the second half was thankfully much better.
But in truth, the game completely turned after Gravenberch’s 62nd-minute red card for a second bookable offence, which this momentum graph captures nicely.
Prior to that, Liverpool were on top.
“I think it’s obvious. We’ve played two games today. One game until the 60th minute and then another game after the red card. We were the best team in the first game and then they were better.” – Andoni Iraola
However, in their first match since being found guilty of breaching financial rules, City quickly secured victory, with goals from Erling Haaland (£15.6m) – who previously should have scored after being played in by Antoine Semenyo (£8.3m) – Jeremy Doku (£7.4m) and Rayan Cherki (£7.8m) in 13 minutes.
Substitute Doku was a constant threat upon his introduction in the second-half, with a signature goal and an assist.
The winger hasn’t started a match all season, however, and it sounds like he will have to make do with an impact role again against Paris Saint-Germain in midweek…
“Good against Sunderland from the bench, good today from the bench, and will probably be on the bench again PSG just to do the same strategy. It’s very good he’s back.” – Enzo Maresca on Jeremy Doku
“Outstanding – Jeremy was very good but we need to take care of him. He is important but only just back from injury.” – Enzo Maresca on Jeremy Doku
Image from Legomane
Elsewhere, Haaland – who was subbed off for a partial breather in the 80th minute – netted for the fifth Gameweek in a row.
Cherki also impressed, with a match-high five shots.
Phil Foden (£6.8m) meanwhile served the final game of his ban on Sunday.
GVARDIOL BENCHED, ANDERSON IMPRESSES
Enzo Maresca made one alteration from Gameweek 5, with Nico O’Reilly (£6.3m) a surprise starter at left-back.
He exited the England camp midway through the international break for “further assessment”, but lined up here, replacing the benched Josko Gvardiol (£5.8m).
Gvardiol had notably racked up 360 minutes while playing for Croatia during the break. However, even with limited pitch on Sunday, he promptly supplied the assist for Cherki’s strike.
With his advanced positioning under Maresca, it was Gvardiol’s fourth assist and fifth attacking return of 2026/27 so far.
Elliot Anderson (£6.3m) also deserves a mention.
He was superb in the middle of the park and supplied the assist for Doku’s goal, but missed out on defensive contribution (DefCon) points, with eight…
KOUMAS UP FRONT
With Isak, Gakpo and Szoboszlai injured, Lewis Koumas (£5.0m) started up front for Liverpool.
Image from BBC Sport
The youngster, who was flanked by Victor Munoz (£6.5m) and Bradley Barcola (£8.0m), made his first Premier League start and put in a decent shift, with plenty of energy and intensity from the front.
Munoz was lively, too, but Liverpool lacked quality in the final-third, with both Florian Wirtz (£7.3m) and Barcola poor.
Then, once Gravenberch was sent off, they completely capitulated.
From an attacking perspective, it just isn’t clicking for Andoni Iraola’s side right now.
They didn’t create a single big chance against City, and they’ve now scored just seven goals this season, fewer than 12 other teams.
They are also in the bottom four for big chances…
The sooner they can recover Isak, Gakpo and Szoboszlai the better, then, particularly with a tricky run of Premier League matches to come, with Brentford, Brighton and Hove Albion and Arsenal up next.
