Guardiola and City face the fans at Anfield
Since the Premier League found Manchester City guilty of 114 of the 115 financial irregularities it was accused of, English fans have raised a wave of protests. When the team managed by Maresca arrived at Anfield, Liverpool supporters, under Guardiola's gaze, flooded the stands with whistles, banners and slogans against the club.
Fans stage visual protests
The chants resonated with the labels “Guilty” and “cheaters”, the most read in the red cathedral. Fans from northwest England did not spare expressions to condemn City. The total outcry in English football was felt in every corner of the stadium.
Among the most striking messages, a banner proclaimed “All your stars are fading away”, while another read “after all, you stole everyone”. In addition, several fake banknotes were thrown onto the pitch as a symbol of the accusation. The messages were read in the red cathedral, reinforcing hostility towards the skyblue club.
T‑shirts with the word “cheats” accompanied by the question “What’s happening here? Stained glory?” were seen. They featured an image of Guardiola with money in his hand, surrounded by sheikhs and some key City players walking towards the Etihad Stadium. The fans also threw fake banknotes onto the field, intensifying the protest scene.
Massive protest as City take on Liverpool after financial ruling
Flags displayed the Catalan coach and figures such as Erling Haaland, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, Cherki and Enzo Fernández, all dressed as prisoners with the number 114 on their chest and the inscription “114 charges”. These references recalled the financial irregularities for which the club was found guilty over nine seasons, from 2009/2010 to 2017/2018. The symbols reminded that the sanction covers irregularities detected between the 2009/2010 and 2017/2018 seasons.
Security and victory under pressure
Tension intensified outside Liverpool’s stadium, runner‑up in several leagues that City conquered, forcing a large group of visiting supporters to be escorted by security against the locals’ threat. Liverpool, runner‑up in much of the leagues that City conquered, was the setting of the tense confrontation. Authorities maintained a reinforced presence to prevent major incidents.
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Despite the hostility, Manchester City prevailed without hesitation: in just fifteen minutes, Haaland, Doku and Cherki scored, sealing the victory. The win cements Manchester City as the unbeaten leader of the Premier League, with eighteen points out of a possible eighteen.