Manchester City overcame a hostile reception at Anfield to secure a 3-0 victory against a 10-man Liverpool side on Sunday. The match marked City’s first appearance since the club was found guilty of more than 100 breaches of Premier League financial regulations between 2009 and 2018. But with the eyes of the world watching today, Liverpool failed to rise to the occasion on the field.
An independent commission determined that the club and its Emirati owners used “sham” arrangements to inflate revenues and suppress costs by upwards of 900 million pounds ($1.2bn). While sanctions are pending, the potential consequences include massive points deductions, expulsion from the top flight, or even the stripping of titles won during that era. Rival supporters frequently point to this period as the foundation for the club’s transformation from mid-table mediocrity following the 2008 Abu Dhabi-backed takeover. But a severe points deduction or even expulsion from the English top-flight is on the table unless City overturns the decision, no sanction has yet been handed down.
The atmosphere surrounding the match was charged, with Liverpool fans chanting “cheats” and “going down” while displaying banners labeling the visitors as having cheated a generation of fans. Despite the tension, the team arrived under police escort without incident, avoiding a repeat of the 2018 bus-pelting violence. Liverpool fan Martin Reilly, 23, expressed the frustration felt by many home supporters, stating, “There are so many moments and memories we can’t get back. They have to throw the book at them.” While merchandise stalls were littered with flags and scarves mocking City’s financial scandal, liverpool fans lined the streets to greet the visitors with chants of “cheats” and “going down”. A banner read “a generation of supporters cheated”, in the iconic Kop end behind one goal.
On the pitch, the match was decided in the second half. Ryan Gravenberch was dismissed for a second yellow card after a foul on Jeremy Doku, providing the catalyst for City’s victory. Doku’s deflected effort set up Erling Haaland to open the scoring 25 minutes from time. Doku doubled the lead shortly after with a curling strike into the top corner, and Rayan Cherki sealed the win after a slick one-two with Josko Gvardiol. As Maresca could turn to Jeremy Doku off the bench early in the second half, city’s economic might was on full display to help turn the game.
This loss was the first for new Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, who was forced to contend with injuries to key players including Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexander Isak, and Cody Gakpo. The home side’s best opportunity came when Lewis Koumas was thwarted by Gianluigi Donnarumma early in the second half.
City midfielder Elliot Anderson noted the mental strength required to navigate the match. “We have shown togetherness and fight; this is a tough place to come and we have shown courage,” he said. He acknowledged that the crowd noise was more intense than usual, noting that the team had to stick together to quieten the atmosphere.
The victory keeps Enzo Maresca’s side at the top of the Premier League table, three points ahead of the pack. However, the club’s long-term future remains precarious as they await the resolution of their appeal against the financial findings. For Liverpool, the defeat highlights the lingering pain of finishing as runners-up to City three times in the last 12 years, a period during which many rivals remain convinced that financial irregularities distorted the competition. 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, city’s rivals believe.
