First up, they must match the intensity and physicality that Liverpool sides have been known for well over a decade.
Then, show the quality and composure required in a difficult setting to put the hosts to the sword.
Liverpool 0-3 City | Match report
On Sunday, City combined both of those for a showing described afterwards by Enzo Maresca as the “perfect away performance”.
Maresca has now led us to six wins from six in the Premier League at the start of his City reign - levelling with Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for the longest winning streak to begin a spell in charge of a side in this league.
No matter how long he stays in the hotseat though, you’d have to imagine there will be few that could taste sweeter than that.
The old adage suggests that talented players have to ‘earn the right’ to show their abilities through good old fashioned hard work and determination.
We did that in spades, outrunning our opponents by a total of four kilometres having covered a whopping 109.5 across the team.
That also involves winning your fair share of duels and City came out on top across ground and aerial battles – winning 41 of 76 on the floor and 13 of 24 in the air.
Elliot Anderson was named Man of the Match for his all-action performance and with fair reason.
He covered 11.6km in total – more than anyone else – and won a total of 12 duels, with the next best across both sides on top in eight.
A frantic first half left little room for a foot on the ball and composed passing sequences, making those duels even more important.
And the start of the second half saw Gianluigi Donnarumma prove his status as one of the world’s leading goalkeepers, making three saves in the first three minutes.
In total, he had to intervene on six occasions whereas Liverpool’s Alisson made only one stop.
However, the arrival of substitute Jérémy Doku will be seen by most as the moment the game turned in City’s favour.
After being brought down by Ryan Gravenberch for the midfielder’s second yellow card, it was his blocked shot that set up Erling Haaland’s shot for the opener before a delightful curling effort for the second.
That type of goal has become something of a trademark for him since these same two sides met at the Etihad Stadium last November.
Antoine Semenyo had shown the way down the left wing a couple of times, dribbling around Ronald Araujo without finding the finishing touch that could have put us ahead.
But Doku took the foundation provided by the Ghanaian’s work and shone.
Despite being on the pitch for just over half an hour, his eight duels won was second only to Anderson, his five successful dribbles was more than anyone else in the game and only Rayan Cherki had more touches in the opposition box than his seven.
So much so, he was the first substitute to score a goal, complete five dribbles and win three fouls in a Premier League match since Eden Hazard in May 2016.
Cherki’s most decisive moment in the Liverpool box was, of course, City’s third goal.
That magnificent moment of skill from the Frenchman came at the end of a 41-pass move, including all 10 outfield players.
And so, after the back-and-forth blood and thunder of the first half, City ended with 65% possession and 497 accurate passes – more than double Liverpool’s 240.
It marked a fourth successive win over Liverpool and back-to-back league successes at Anfield, having only tasted victory there twice in the 21st century before February.
We also remain top of the embryonic Premier League table, having already visited the homes of two of our greatest rivals in Manchester United and Liverpool.
Given all that, the immense outpouring of joy from the players, coaches and fans clutching inflatable bananas at Anfield is easy to understand.
City v Paris Saint-Germain: Don’t miss out on mouthwatering UCL clash
Don’t miss out on our mouthwatering UEFA Champions League home opener against Paris Saint-Germain with tickets still available ahead of Wednesday’s game.
They are on sale to all Season Ticket Members and existing Premium, Matchday and Junior Members who have previously purchased a match ticket at the Etihad Stadium.
It’s up to four tickets per Member – with three additional for Members on the UEFA Cup Scheme.
It should be quite the game as the 2023 winners take on Luis Enrique’s holders, the French team having triumphed in both 2025 and 2026 by seeing off Inter Milan and Arsenal.
It’s an 20:00 (UK) kick-off on Wednesday as we look to follow up on our away victory over FC Porto on Matchnight One with another success under the lights of the Etihad Stadium.
It’s been quite the start for the Blues, with eight wins in eight games including six successes in six top-flight tussles, Sunday’s 3-0 triumph over Liverpool at Anfield the latest success for Enzo Maresca’s men.
You can also enjoy the exciting UCL clash with a hospitality experience.
There’s availability in Zadie’s and Legends with prices starting from £275.
