City brace for Liverpool clash as Maresca rallies after £830m verdict

At the Etihad Stadium on Monday, 5 October 2026, Enzo Maresca stepped onto the pitch as the first manager seen since the Premier League handed Manchester City a guilty verdict for inflating commercial revenue by £830 million. He now prepares a Thursday group session to rally a squad that has not met as a whole since last week.

Thursday group session

The Thursday gathering will take place at the City Football Academy, where Maresca is expected to address the Man City players collectively after a fraught week. The meeting marks the first time the entire group has assembled since the verdict was announced.

Most of the squad spent the past fortnight on international duty, a period rocked by an independent commission’s findings that City artificially inflated commercial revenues by £830 million. The findings have left the club in turmoil despite a flawless start to the season.

City’s first assignment after the guilty verdict – which they strenuously contest and have appealed – is a highly anticipated trip to rivals Liverpool on Sunday. All eyes will be on how the team reacts amid widespread calls for the harshest punishment.

Maresca’s early tenure

Maresca arrived at the Etihad on Monday, just days after the verdict was delivered.

The Italian took over following Guardiola’s summer departure and has overseen a maximum 15 points from five league games, a flawless start that now sits under a cloud of uncertainty.

Phil Foden and Antoine Semenyo, who were not on international duty, have been able to train at the club’s facilities. The rest of the squad, scattered across the globe, have maintained contact with the club remotely.

Enzo Fernandez will be the last to return, as Lionel Messi’s bow for Argentina against Benin does not kick off until midnight UK time on Wednesday at River Plate’s Estadio Monumental. The England cohort – Elliot Anderson, Marc Guehi and Rico Lewis – will travel north after Tuesday’s Nations League tie with the Czech Republic, but are not expected back until Thursday.

Nico O’Reilly was sent home with an injury, while Norway boss Stale Solbakken dismissed concerns that Erling Haaland suffered a fitness problem during Sunday’s defeat by Portugal. ‘It’s not just him [Haaland], there’s a whole bunch leaving now,’ Solbakken said. ‘They’ve been given a few days off from their clubs.’

Maresca now faces an onslaught of questions about possible sanctions, ranging from hefty fines to expulsion from the Premier League. He will need to rally his group of stars as the club navigates the appeal process and prepares for the Liverpool clash.