Maresca hails 3-0 Anfield win as City show unity amid Premier League charges

Manchester City silenced Anfield with a commanding 3-0 victory over Liverpool on Sunday, a result Enzo Maresca described as vital for the entire organisation as the club navigates the fallout from being found guilty of breaching more than 100 Premier League rules.

CEO Ferran Soriano and sporting director Hugo Viana were both present in the directors’ box — Soriano’s first City fixture since the independent commission delivered its guilty verdicts during the international break. Maresca cupped his ear to travelling supporters at the final whistle before underlining the significance of the occasion.

“Ferran was there, Hugo was there. We were all together,” Maresca said. “For the importance of the game, Liverpool away, Anfield away — it’s important from the club to be all together.”

Maresca acknowledged that his players had been unsettled by the turbulence surrounding the verdicts, and said his message on their return from international duty three days earlier had been direct. “Guys, the noise will be there so it’s how we learn to deal with the noise,” he told them. “It’s our duty to make our noise and our noise is to win games in the way we did today and be happy.”

City are appealing the findings of the commission, but the club currently faces a potentially seismic punishment that could, in the most severe scenario, affect their place in the division. Soriano had already addressed club staff via a video message when the verdicts were confirmed.

Anfield has historically been one of City’s most difficult away grounds, making the margin of victory all the more striking. “Zero-three, Anfield away, is a great result for sure,” Maresca said. “In this moment all the organisation needs this kind of win — it’s good for us as a coaching staff, it’s good for the players, good for the fans, good for the organisation. This kind of win is good for all the club.”