A 3-0 win over Liverpool would normally be the headline on its own. But at the Etihad, the story was less about the scoreline and more about the two substitutes who turned a disjointed contest into a rout.
First Half: Semenyo Shines in a Stop-Start Opening
The first half was a scrappy, stop-start affair. City never really found their rhythm, and it showed in the stands as much as on the pitch. The one bright spot was Semenyo, who was constantly looking to attack. He put two passes right in front of Liverpool's goal, only for no teammate to be around to tap the ball into an empty net. Elliot Anderson was similarly direct, but the end product was missing.
Doku's Arrival Changes Everything
Doku came on in the 56th minute, and from that point on, the game tilted. His speed and precision were too much for Liverpool's defence, and he broke the deadlock in the 68th minute. It was the kind of goal that had been coming since his introduction, and it finally gave City the lead their pressure deserved.
Cherki Adds the Second
Ten minutes later, Cherki made it two. He had been lively since his own introduction, and his 78th-minute strike was no more than he deserved. By then, Liverpool were chasing shadows, and City were cruising.
Bouaddi's Difficult Cameo
Not every substitution worked. Bouaddi came on in the 80th minute and struggled to make any positive impact, even as his teammates continued to dominate. His evening got worse in the 86th minute when he received a yellow card for a poor tackle that gave Liverpool a free kick directly in front of goal. Fortunately for City, the visitors couldn't capitalise.
In the end, a comfortable win, but one that raised as many questions about the starting XI as it answered about the bench.