Man City defiant and top of the table - but Anfield delivers its own verdict

The chant from The Kop went up early. "You haven't won a trophy since 1976." It was a reference to Manchester City's League Cup triumph, the last major honour that the club picked up prior to the period of ownership that now finds itself under such scrutiny.

As it is, City remain top of the table having won six games from six. But this victory will not quieten the noise. They departed to boos and the accusations of cheating that were a feature of the day.

Liverpool, three times runners-up to Manchester City in 2014, 2019 and 2022, made for perfect but hostile hosts, with the Anfield crowd perhaps the ideal outlet for the emotions, a proxy for supporters everywhere. It was an atmosphere like no other.

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The enterprising flag and scarf sellers in Liverpool were certainly prepared, with an unusual emphasis on the visitors, this being City's first game since an independent commission judged that they broke Premier League rules between 2009 and 2018.

City are appealing that verdict and continue to deny any wrongdoing.

But the court of opinion is making its voice heard too. Anfield has made up its mind. The banners referred to "a generation of supporters cheated" and a playful take on Wonderwall with the amended line that "you really robbed us all".

Even the choice of songs over the public-address system appeared to be pointed. Before kick-off at Anfield, we had Blame by Calvin Harris and a blast of The Joker and the Thief by Wolfmother. Upon the final whistle, it was Little Lies by Fleetwood Mac.

As expected, City's supporters opted for defiance in the face of the criticism. The boos for the Premier League anthem are nothing new but carried extra resonance. The banner declaring that 'In Khaldoon we trust' an eye-opening indication of the devotion of some.

Others preferred to shift the focus from their current predicament. There was more than a hint of nostalgia in a nod to the fact that there is far more to their club than how their rivals perceive them. Poznan dances and inflatable bananas served as a symbol of that.

The latter custom, one that dates back to Imre Varadi - 'Imre Banana' to the fans in the late '80s - is a reminder that City were always really here. This remains a proud club. The message being sent is that the downs are part of their story just as much as the ups.

But the overriding emotions inside the stadium belonged to the majority, those wearing Liverpool red, and the reality is that City and these charges are part of their story too. Anyone allowing the mind to wander at Anfield on Sunday could not escape that history.

Glance down to the spot on the turf where Steven Gerrard slipped to let in Demba Ba in 2014. Liverpool lost that game to Chelsea but lost that title to City. How can this ruling not change the tone and temperature of that regret? Sadness is now tinged with anger.

And so, for Liverpool, this is not only about City's trophies not being 'real' but those phantom triumphs of their own. "Until you've repaid the dreams you bought for your lies you'll be castaway alone under stormy skies." A banner in the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand.

This game itself was a reminder that these matters are ongoing. The charges are historic but the consequences are part of the present.

A strange afternoon had a strange ending too - The Kop chanted 'going down' while the league table shows that City are top.

"That is the backdrop to not knowing where these points and this season is going," rued Gary Neville on commentary. "There is going to be a 'but' all the way."

Resolution cannot come soon enough.