Manchester City Face Hostile Anfield Reception After Guilty Verdict
Manchester City travel to Liverpool on Sunday for their first match since an independent commission found them guilty of most of the Premier League's 115 financial charges.
Manchester City visit Liverpool on Sunday for their first game since an independent commission found the club guilty of the majority of the 115 financial charges brought by the Premier League. The verdict has cast a shadow over City's recent successes, including the six titles won under former manager Pep Guardiola, and sets up a charged atmosphere at Anfield.
City arrive top of the table with five wins from five, and manager Enzo Maresca has defended the club's achievements, stating on Friday that the titles are 'absolutely not' tainted. Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola described the fixture as 'exciting' and said his side will 'go for the game', acknowledging City's quality but insisting Liverpool are also 'very good'.
This will be the first meeting between the clubs since 2015 without either Guardiola or Jürgen Klopp on the touchline. Liverpool chairman Tom Werner will attend. The Reds finished second to City in 2013-14, 2018-19 and 2021-22, and former goalkeeping coach John Achterberg said the memories of those near-misses leave a sense of being 'wrongly denied'.
Supporters are expected to create a hostile environment. Social media posts have advertised a 'Bus Greeting' on Anfield Road, and fans are planning banners and flags inside the ground, with one post suggesting stacks of fake money. Merseyside Police said an appropriate policing plan will be in place but did not give specifics.
Liverpool's preparations are 'business as usual', with regular safety meetings held before every game. City insist they are innocent and await the outcome of an appeal. Iraola said the uncertainty is the worst part, adding that his focus is on making Liverpool the best club and team they can be.
Image: Getty Images / BBC Sport
