Gary Neville Praises Enzo Maresca's Man City After Dominant 3-0 Victory at Anfield Amid Financial Charges

Gary Neville praised Manchester City following their emphatic 3-0 victory against Liverpool at Anfield, despite ongoing Premier League financial charges hanging over the club. Managed by Enzo Maresca, the team silenced a hostile crowd and restored a three-point lead at the top of the table with a strong response amid potential sanctions.

City Overcome Hostile Atmosphere to Secure Three Points

The league leaders faced intense pressure after being found guilty of financial breaches, but they delivered a clinical performance on Merseyside. The match was tense, with persistent jeers from Liverpool fans until Ryan Gravenberch’s red card shifted momentum in City's favor. Goals from Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, and Rayan Cherki sealed a convincing win despite the cloud of looming penalties.

"Anfield is a very difficult ground to win at. Those City players and staff are celebrating together. Liverpool fans are singing 'you're going down.' So you get a sense of the background of this game. You don't know where City are going to end up but you can't take that performance away from Enzo Maresca and his players," Neville said on Sky Sports.

Navigating Success Amid Uncertainty

Neville acknowledged the challenge of separating praise for City's on-field efforts from the shadow of a possible points deduction or relegation. He shared his thoughts on the tension surrounding the club during his first match commentary since the charges were announced.

"That’s the first Man City game I’ve done since the charges came out a few weeks ago. I did say if you could take me off Man City games until the verdict that’d be perfect. We should be able to praise the win without the thing in the back of your mind. Ruben Dias, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Elliott Anderson were excellent. At the end of the game, you’re imagining if the guilty verdicts are confirmed there’s going to be a cloud over the club."

Upcoming Challenges for Both Teams

Manchester City now shift their attention to the Champions League as they prepare to host holders Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, October 14. This encounter will test Maresca's squad further while their legal issues continue in the background.

On the other side, Liverpool face increasing tactical questions after struggling performances from Florian Wirtz and missing the presence of Alexander Isak.

• Date: October 14, 2026
• Champions League Match: Liverpool vs Manchester City, 19:45
• Champions League Match: Paris Saint-Germain vs Manchester City, 22:00