Manchester City face ferocious Anfield reception after 115-charge verdict
Manchester City travel to Liverpool on Sunday with a hostile Anfield reception expected after an independent commission found the club guilty of the majority of 115 financial charges. City have won all five league games this season, while Liverpool look to kickstart their campaign under Andoni Iraola.
- Fixture: Liverpool vs Manchester City, Premier League
- Venue: Anfield
- Date: Sunday
- Man City form: Five wins from five in the Premier League this season
- Context: Independent commission found City guilty of majority of 115 financial charges; appeal verdict awaited
- At stake: Liverpool can end City's 100% start and kickstart their own campaign
What was said
"It's an exciting game. We are playing at home at Anfield against City that is top of the league, they have won all of their games. We will go for the game, they will go for it and it will be quite an open game and we have to be ready. I hope we will be at the level of the game, which will be high."
"Yes, we are here to play this game. We know it's going to be challenging. They are very good but we also are very good."
"The worst thing probably is the uncertainty. No-one knows what's going to happen. We have to focus on Liverpool and being the best club we can be, the best team we can be. That's my challenge."
"You think about the memories and the successes that you were wrongly denied. We won one Premier League title [in 2019-20], but it could have been four given that we missed out to City three times by such narrow margins."
"There's something about it that you will find in no other stadium in the world. They score a goal and over the next five minutes you feel that you'll receive another four. You feel small and the rival players seem to be all over."
These quotes capture the mood around a fixture that has become the Premier League's most charged rivalry. Iraola's words underline Liverpool's intent to attack, while Achterberg's grievance gives voice to a section of the fanbase who feel the commission's verdict validates long-held suspicions.
Maresca, meanwhile, has already said the club's titles are "absolutely not" tainted. That defiance will be tested by an Anfield crowd that has not forgotten the 2013-14, 2018-19 and 2021-22 title races.
The numbers
- City have won five out of five Premier League games this season.
- Liverpool finished second to City in 2013-14 under Brendan Rodgers, and again in 2018-19 and 2021-22 under Klopp.
- Liverpool amassed 97 points in 2018-19 and 92 points in 2021-22, finishing one point behind City on each occasion.
- Liverpool won one Premier League title in 2019-20, but Achterberg claims it could have been four.
- Liverpool were fined β¬20,000 (Β£17,500) by Uefa in 2018 after missiles were thrown at the City bus before a Champions League quarter-final first leg at Anfield.
- City were 2-0 down at Liverpool in December 2024, on their way to a fourth consecutive Premier League defeat.
Why City's trip to Anfield is about more than three points
For Enzo Maresca, this is a test of nerve as much as tactics. His side have been flawless in the league, but they have not yet faced a crowd this hostile. Anfield will remind them of the 115 charges at every turn, and the players must block that out. A win would be a powerful statement: the champions are unaffected by the noise.
Andoni Iraola has the opposite challenge. He must harness the emotion without letting it overwhelm his team. Liverpool have been inconsistent, and a fast start could rattle City. Iraola's comment that "we also are very good" suggests he will not sit back. Expect high pressing and an attempt to overwhelm City's midfield.
The pre-match atmosphere will be as intense as anything seen this season. Reports of a 'Bus Greeting' on Anfield Road and suggestions that fans could bring stacks of fake money show the depth of feeling. Merseyside Police say an appropriate policing plan will be in place, but the mood is set. For City, this is a new normal; for Liverpool, it is a chance to reclaim a narrative that has haunted them for a decade.
Talking points
- Will City's players be distracted by the 115-charge verdict and the hostile crowd, or will Maresca's siege mentality make them stronger?
- Should Liverpool fans protest with fake money and bus greetings, or does it risk overshadowing a crucial match?
- Can City maintain a 100% start without Guardiola on the touchline, or is this the game where their aura cracks?
- If Liverpool win, does it validate Achterberg's claim that they were wrongly denied multiple titles?
What happens next
Sunday's match at Anfield will be followed by a verdict on City's appeal, which hangs over the club's season. City insist they are innocent, but sections of Liverpool's fanbase and former staff feel aggrieved. The result will shape the title race and the mood around Manchester City's ongoing legal battle.
Frequently asked questions
What time is Liverpool vs Manchester City on Sunday?
The source article does not specify the kick-off time, but the match is on Sunday at Anfield.
Are Manchester City's titles tainted after the 115-charge verdict?
Enzo Maresca says they are "absolutely not" tainted, but the independent commission found the club guilty of the majority of the 115 financial charges. An appeal verdict is awaited.
What reception awaits Manchester City at Anfield?
A ferocious and hostile reception is expected, with reports of a 'Bus Greeting' on Anfield Road and suggestions that fans could bring stacks of fake money.
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