Despite the hostile atmosphere created by Liverpool at Anfield for Sunday’s fiery clash, it was leaders Manchester City who had the last word with a superb 3-0 victory to maintain their perfect start to the Premier League season.
The noise focused on off-field matters as City returned to action after an explosive ruling by an independent commission found them guilty of breaking more than 100 Premier League financial rules.
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Enzo Maresca’s team couldn’t have chosen a worse place to relaunch their campaign after the guilty verdict.
Anfield has given City an angry reception for years.
How City made their ‘own noise’
On Sunday, the vitriol was at a fever pitch with flags reading “cheaters” and “114 charges,” a common sight in merchandise for sale.
But even as red smoke engulfed Merseyside and chants of “Cheating Bastards” echoed through the stadium, none of it could derail the defiant Manchester side, who turned the situation around within six minutes of the second half.
Ryan Gravenberch was sent off in the 62nd minute, reducing Liverpool to 10 men.
City enjoyed a one-man advantage as Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku scored in quick succession before Rayan Cherki added another, silencing Anfield’s noisy Kop end.
“It hasn’t been easy for the players after the last two or three weeks, but they handled the situation very well,” Maresca said after the match.
“I said during the week we had to learn to deal with the outside noise but make our own noise, which is to win games. Our fans were singing at the end, so the noise was coming from us.”
Haaland, the Premier League’s top scorer this season with six goals, looked on the verge of tears after the victory, which he described as a “lovely moment” and which he said would stay with City in trouble for a long time.
“It’s time to stay strong, stay united and do what you can do something about: stay united,” he added.
City win, but Premier League remains in limbo
While City emerged from Sunday’s hostile showdown unscathed, the victory highlighted the uncertainty that now surrounds the remainder of the Premier League season.
Maresca’s team leads the standings with 18 points and a 100 percent record. Yet those results could count for nothing unless City, who deny any financial wrongdoing, succeed in their appeal against the guilty verdict.
No sanctions have yet been decided, but if City’s appeal fails, potential sanctions include a significant points deduction and expulsion from the Premier League.
It is even possible that three Premier League titles could be taken away from City, who won them from 2009 to 2018, the period to which the accusations relate.
This guilty verdict for widespread financial irregularities therefore leaves a question mark over every City result and what it means for other clubs.
“It’s really bad for the Premier League, and it’s going to continue for a few months,” former Manchester United captain turned pundit Gary Neville told Sky Sports.
Earlier, Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola stressed that “uncertainty is not good for anyone”, while former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said he hoped the appeal process would not drag on for months.
“There’s no way this can continue until the end of the season because we’re all being made fun of,” Carragher said.
There is also the debate over City’s past successes. Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has argued that any title City won while engaging in financial wrongdoing would be difficult to celebrate.
“Some people might think it’s a bit stronger, but I wouldn’t feel like I won a championship if I thought there was something questionable going on in the background. Absolutely not,” he said.
“We’re talking about guys who go out and give it their all and get hurt, … but that’s your job. But you hope that everyone is on the same page, that they’re honest and that they do things the right way.”
What’s next for City and the Premier League?
Moments after the City players began celebrating at the final whistle, the Anfield DJ played Fleetwood Mac song Little Lies over the speakers.
Many would say it was the final act of defiance from Liverpool and, by extension, their fans, but it certainly won’t be the last hostile reception City face in stadiums across England and beyond this season.
From now on, every time a team loses to City, its players and fans can feel robbed.
This is the current state of the Premier League, when its most successful team is also the most controversial team.
Much of this comes from the uncertainty facing City and 19 other top-flight clubs. What’s next? What sanctions, if any, await City? Will they be stripped of their titles?
“The Premier League has given its verdict, but we know these things take time,” a Liverpool supporter told Al Jazeera outside Anfield on Sunday. “Hopefully it won’t take years to find out what the final product will be.
“It’s heartbreaking. Having been a Liverpool supporter for over 20 years, we came close on many occasions, reaching 98 points and losing by one point. These are fine margins. … We could have won 22 Premier League trophies.”
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