Man City were greeted with chants of “cheats” on their arrival at Anfield on Sunday to face Liverpool in their first game since being found guilty of breaking more than 100 financial rules.
In a decision that could have a drastic effect on the future of the Premier League, an independent commission found City and their Emirati owners had arranged “sham” deals to artificially inflate revenues and reduce costs by more than £900 million ($1.2 billion) between 2009 and 2018.
Liverpool fans lined the streets around their iconic home for hours before the 1530GMT kick-off, with merchandise stalls littered with flags and scarves mocking City’s financial scandal.
The visitors’ bus arrived via a police escort on a different route than normal to avoid the large crowds. But there was no repeat of the violent scenes before a Champions League clash between the clubs in 2018 when the City bus was pelted with bottles.
The multiple breaches of Premier League laws came during a period in which City won three titles and a clutch of other trophies.
City’s rivals believe, however, that the illegal spending during that period also built the foundations for a golden era under former boss Pep Guardiola, who left at the end of last season.
Twice Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool missed out on the title to Guardiola’s side despite amassing more than 90 points.
The potential sanctions range from a heavy points penalty or even expulsion from the English top flight. There is even speculation that City could have titles taken away.
“There are so many moments and memories we can’t get back,” Liverpool fan Martin Reilly, 23, told AFP. “They have to throw the book at them.”
No sanction has yet been imposed and City, who have appealed against the decision, continue to protest their innocence.
“It’s difficult right now, there are a lot of questions. But you’ve got to back your club,” said City supporter Colin Bradshaw, a 22-year-old retail worker.
As a result of the guilty verdicts, the Premier League season is in a state of stasis awaiting a ruling on the appeal and any potential punishment.
“I think the worst thing probably is the uncertainty, that no one knows what’s going to happen,” Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola said on Friday.
– ‘No trust now’ –
“I think they have to be stripped of the titles. Otherwise you send the wrong message to anyone in the future,” John Gibbons of Liverpool podcast The Anfield Wrap told AFP.
“There can’t be any trust now, certainly not if there’s not an admission of guilt. For me, I don’t see how Manchester City continue in the league.”
City have made a flawless start to Enzo Maresca’s reign, with seven successive wins in all competitions.
The charges against the club were first announced in February 2023 but City went on to win the treble in the following months, clinching the club’s first Champions League crown, as well as the Premier League and FA Cup.
The question is whether Erling Haaland and his teammates can use the tumultuous events as a spur to further success or whether they will wilt under the scrutiny.
The Liverpool showdown is likely to be “massively hostile”, said Dom Farrell, author of the book “Glory Days for the Waifs and Strays” that chronicled City’s rise from the third tier to European champions.
“If they were to win against Liverpool and then beat an off-form Paris Saint-Germain (in the Champions League on Wednesday) you really get a siege mentality going.
“But there’s also a decent chance they get turned over and then it just starts to feel you’re in this sort of dead zone waiting for the verdict.”
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