Liverpool vs Man City player ratings: Florian Wirtz struggles in tough outing for the Reds

Manchester City extended their perfect start to the season with a win over Liverpool, handing Andoni Iraola his first defeat as Liverpool boss. Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki scored for City, who took control after Liverpool were reduced to 10 men.

Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch was sent off for a second yellow card, a moment that shifted the match. Here is how the players were rated.

Liverpool

Alisson (5): He could do nothing to stop Haaland’s strike, then was beaten by a fine finish from Doku and some strong footwork from Cherki.

Ronald Araujo (5): He picked up an early yellow card cheaply and will be frustrated that City’s first two goals came from his side.

Virgil van Dijk (6): He was often pulled out of position to help Liverpool cope with being outnumbered in midfield. He might have closed down Haaland more quickly.

Jeremy Jacquet (6): It was not a bad display from a young talent, though it will have been an eye-opener against a quality City attack.

Milos Kerkez (5): He battled well with Iliman Ndiaye and pushed forward regularly, but lacked quality in the final third.

Alexis Mac Allister (5): He grew into the game and put in a good shift, but struggled once Liverpool were down to 10 men.

Ryan Gravenberch (6): He came in for the injured Dominik Szoboszlai and was Liverpool’s best player until his second yellow card. It was a naive mistake.

Victor Munoz (7): He played with real fearlessness and was a constant nuisance to City, causing Nico O’Reilly all sorts of problems.

Florian Wirtz (4): He has to do better, particularly in games of this magnitude. He was largely ineffective and made some poor decisions.

Bradley Barcola (5): He was sharp on the ball and did his defensive duties, but like Wirtz, needed to do more in the final third.

Lewis Koumas (7): Making his first Premier League start, the 21-year-old got stuck in from the outset in an energetic display that the Anfield crowd loved.

Manchester City

Gianluigi Donnarumma (7): He had a shaky start but made a string of good saves early in the second half to deny Koumas and Gravenberch and keep the game level.

Matheus Nunes (7): He was impressive and made a great tackle in the box to deny Barcola in the first half.

Ruben Dias (7): He did well to weather the early storm and keep Liverpool out.

Marc Guehi (7): A strong performance at centre-half, and he and Dias can take satisfaction from the way they defended, especially when Liverpool attacked the Kop end.

Nico O’Reilly (6): He was solid going forward but had his work cut out against Munoz and was booked for fouling him in the second half.

Elliot Anderson (7): He always showed for the ball and was constantly involved. He was lucky not to be booked for pulling back Gravenberch, and he set up Doku’s goal.

Enzo Fernandez (6): He forced Alisson into a good save in the first half but did not really grow into the game until Gravenberch was sent off.

Iliman Ndiaye (6): He was dangerous on the ball and had a few threatening moments before being replaced by Doku.

Rayan Cherki (8): He capped a day to remember for City with a lovely goal.

Antoine Semenyo (7): He threatened all afternoon and was part of an attack that was simply too good for Liverpool once City had the numerical advantage.

Erling Haaland (8): He had a quiet first half and missed a big chance early in the second, but he finished emphatically to give City the lead.

Jeremy Doku (8): He came on in the 56th minute for Ndiaye and scored an absolute belter.