Maresca Defends Manchester City Celebrations After 3-0 Liverpool Win
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has defended his side’s celebrations after Sunday’s 3-0 win at Liverpool, insisting the squad had every right to enjoy a significant result at Anfield despite the club’s continuing off-field case.
Why the Anfield result carries added weight
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Match | Liverpool 0-3 Manchester City |
| Venue | Anfield |
| City scorers | Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, Rayan Cherki |
| Next fixture | Paris Saint-Germain, Champions League |
The Liverpool fixture was City’s first match after an independent commission found the club guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial rules. City are appealing the verdict and continue to maintain their innocence.
Players and staff celebrated with the travelling support after the final whistle, prompting criticism online from those who considered the reaction ill-timed in light of the commission’s decision. Maresca, however, made clear before the Champions League meeting with Paris Saint-Germain that his focus remains entirely on results and preparation.
Asked why City had been criticised, Maresca pointed to the scale of the victory, saying the team had won 3-0 at Anfield and questioning what else was expected of them. He said the players and staff work each day to win matches, describing that as the only matter within their control.
The manager acknowledged that the club must deal with issues beyond the pitch, but said the group’s happiness came from the performance and the dressing-room response to an important away win.
Captain Ruben Dias supported that position after playing his part in the clean sheet. The Portugal defender said he fully agreed with Maresca and stressed that a victory at Anfield would always carry meaning, regardless of the stage of the season or surrounding circumstances.
Dias said City would celebrate wins in the way the squad felt appropriate at the time, viewing the reaction as evidence of how much the result meant to the players. He added that opposition to City’s success is an expected consequence of competing at the top, with other teams sharing the same ambition to win.
Goals from Haaland, Doku and Cherki delivered a commanding result on Merseyside and offered City a timely reminder of their attacking depth before facing PSG. Dias said the squad are aware of outside opinion but remain centred on their pursuit of trophies.
