City maintain perfect start despite off-pitch troubles

Erling Haaland starred with a double as Premier League leaders Manchester City beat Ipswich 3-2, while Liverpool came from behind to seal a 2-1 win at Brentford on Saturday. City are in turmoil off the pitch after being found guilty of more than 100 breaches of Premier League financial rules. But on the grass, they have made a perfect start, with seven successive league victories marking their best opening to a Premier League season. City, who are appealing against the guilty verdict after branding it a "Premier League conspiracy", sit six points clear of champions Arsenal. Second-placed Arsenal can close the gap with a win at Nottingham Forest on Sunday. With City potentially facing a massive points deduction or even expulsion from the top flight if their appeal fails, it remains to be seen whether their results will even matter by the end of the season. But for now, Enzo Maresca's side are in fine form after bouncing back from their midweek loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. There was a defiant mood at the Etihad Stadium, where City fans booed the Premier League anthem before kick-off, while thousands waved inflatable bananas to underline their commitment to the club regardless of their current plight. The toy...