Manchester City are set to face a hostile reception at Anfield on Sunday when they play Liverpool in their first game since being found guilty of breaking over 100 financial rules. An independent commission found City and their Emirati owners had arranged "sham" deals to artificially inflate revenues and reduce costs by over £900 million ($1.2 billion) between 2009 and 2018. This period saw City win three titles and multiple trophies, while Liverpool struggled to break their stranglehold on English football.
City have appealed against the verdict and manager Enzo Maresca expressed confidence they will overturn the ruling. However, he urged his players to focus on the pitch, stating, "For me and the players, we can control just the pitch, the football side. We are focused on that. This what we can control. We cannot control something different." The team's preparation for the game was briefly interrupted when Manchester United fans mocked them during their 1-1 draw against Tottenham at Old Trafford on Saturday.
The Premier League season is in a state of uncertainty awaiting a ruling on City's appeal and potential punishment. Options range from a heavy points penalty to expulsion from the English top flight, with speculation City could have titles taken away. Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola acknowledged the uncertainty, stating, "I think the worst thing probably is the uncertainty, that no one knows what's going to happen."
Liverpool supporters have created intense atmospheres for City's visits since they emerged as title contenders following their Abu Dhabi-based owners' takeover in 2008. This weekend's showdown is likely to be "massively hostile," according to Dom Farrell, author of the book "Glory Days for the Waifs and Strays" that chronicled City's rise. City have rarely enjoyed trips to Anfield, with their last win in front of a crowd coming in 2003.
City have made a flawless start to Maresca's reign with seven successive wins in all competitions. Despite the charges against the club being announced in February 2023, City went on to win the treble, including their first Champions League crown, Premier League, and FA Cup. The question remains whether Erling Haaland and his teammates can use the tumultuous events around them to fuel their performances.
Liverpool, without injured players Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo, finished second to City on three occasions in the past 12 years. Their rivals believe City's illegal spending during that period built the foundations for a golden era under former boss Pep Guardiola. Twice Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool missed out on the title despite amassing over 90 points.
The battles for those titles made meetings between City and Liverpool special. City's rivals believe that if they are not punished severely, it will send the wrong message to future teams. John Gibbons of Liverpool podcast The Anfield Wrap told AFP, "I think they have to be stripped of the titles. Otherwise you send the wrong message to anyone in the future."
Key points
- Manchester City face a hostile reception at Anfield on Sunday after being found guilty of breaking over 100 financial rules.
- The Premier League season is in uncertainty awaiting a ruling on City's appeal and potential punishment.
- City's rivals believe severe punishment is necessary to maintain the integrity of the league.
