Merseyside Police Share New Strong Warning for Manchester City Ahead of Liverpool Game
Manchester City fans and players should get ready for a much tougher time from opposing fans at Premier League games, starting with their trip to Liverpool this Sunday.
Man City will be playing at Anfield for the first time since an independent commission announced they were found guilty of nearly all 115 charges brought by the Premier League. The club has already filed an appeal, hoping to reduce what could be a heavy set of punishments.
During the international break, the news has settled a bit, but now the real football action resumes – and City heads to Liverpool. The Reds have never been friendly towards the Manchester clubs and could benefit if Man City were to lose trophies because of the guilty verdict. Liverpool finished second in the Premier League in 2013-14 and lost to City in the 2016 League Cup final.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville, speaking on The Overlap, warned City to prepare for a tough atmosphere. “If they want to understand how angry things will be, just wait for Anfield. There might be banners, chants, and a reception unlike anything they’ve experienced before… it will be a rough day.”
There have been past incidents with the Man City team bus when entering Anfield, raising worries that the players might face problems after the verdict. Merseyside Police say they will have a suitable security plan for the game.
The charges against Man City have been a cloud over the Premier League and football for years, including claims of trying to interfere with the investigation. Simon Bajkowski, the chief Man City writer at the Manchester Evening News, says, “There might be new developments, but the City players won’t be walking into anything completely new this weekend. Anfield is probably the worst place for their first game after these findings, but some Liverpool fans are already lowering their expectations.”
He adds, “The backlash will be strongest at away games, where thousands of fans can express their feelings in person. It won’t be easy, but it’s unlikely to catch the players off guard since they’re used to this kind of abuse.”
This story is still developing, with politicians calling for new investigations following the verdict.