Manchester City put three past Liverpool on Sunday evening. They also kept at least one post-match interview out of reach.

talkSPORT’s Alex Crook was denied access to Enzo Maresca after full-time, the station said, despite the Italian speaking to Sky Sports and sitting through the usual press conference. No reason was offered for the refusal, according to the broadcaster’s own account, which described it as a breach of the Premier League’s broadcasting requirements.

What the rulebook actually says

Rule K.207 of the Premier League handbook sets a floor on radio access. Each club must ensure every rights-holding broadcaster gets to speak to “at least one Player who featured prominently in the League Match” and “the Manager, following the League Match,” the handbook states.

There is no “spoke to another station” exemption. Granting Sky Sports an interview and declining talkSPORT one is the exact scenario the clause rules out.

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Haaland, Doku and Cherki do the damage

The match itself turned shortly after the hour. Ryan Gravenberch was dismissed for a second yellow card after a trip on Jeremy Doku in the 62nd minute, and City scored twice in the following minutes. Erling Haaland rifled home from a Doku cutback, then Doku himself curled a finish into the opposite top corner. Rayan Cherki added a third from close range, as Liverpool’s own match report described.

A fresh rule breach, with FFP sanctions still pending

In late September an independent commission ruled that City were guilty of 114 of the 115 financial-rule charges brought by the Premier League, according to Al Jazeera. Sanctions are a separate hearing.

Neither the club nor the Premier League has commented publicly on the talkSPORT refusal.

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