Liverpool Virgil Van Dijk vows to speak once Man City appeal ends
At Anfield, the roar of Liverpool supporters still echoed as Virgil van Dijk, the Dutch defender, declared he will "definitely share his comments" once Manchester City’s appeal over their financial verdict is finally resolved. The statement came on 11 October 2026, amid ongoing controversy surrounding the Premier League leaders.
City’s guilty verdict and appeal
Manchester City were found guilty of breaching 114 financial rules by an independent commission, with potential punishments ranging from relegation to the stripping of titles. The club maintains its innocence and has lodged an appeal, meaning the saga will extend for years beyond its original start.
During the period of the breaches, from 2009 to 2018, Liverpool finished second in the league once, in 2014. The players signed by City in that era formed the squad that later defeated Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool to claim the title in 2019 and again in 2022.
Van Dijk’s perspective
When asked about the verdict, van Dijk said, "The only thing I can say, because it’s ongoing, is that I have really enjoyed the rivalry. But that is on the pitch; what has happened off the pitch is a totally different story." He added that commenting now would be premature and promised to speak once the matter is settled.
Liverpool fans attack City with 'cheaters' flags
Van Dijk highlighted that Liverpool’s trophy cabinet could have been richer without City’s dominance. He was part of the Liverpool sides that amassed 97 points in 2019 and 92 points in 2022, yet finished second on both occasions, also losing domestic cup ties to Guardiola’s City.
Fan reaction and recent match
Anfield fans displayed banners mocking City’s scandal before the league match, where City produced a ruthless second‑half display to win 3‑0, maintaining a perfect record of six wins from six. Van Dijk noted the impact of a red card, saying, "Second half the red card changed the game, especially when you concede quickly afterwards."
Massive protest as City take on Liverpool after financial ruling
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