Liverpool fans made their feelings known ahead of Manchester City's first Premier League match since being found guilty on 114 charges of breaching financial rules. Demonstrations began the day before, with anti-City merchandise sold outside Anfield and banners referencing the scandal. Manchester United supporters also joined in, relaunching their famous "ticking clock" banner to 51 years to negate City's trophies since the Abu Dhabi takeover.
On matchday, Liverpool fans lined the streets to greet their team bus with chants and flares, while City arrived via a back entrance to avoid a repeat of the 2018 bus attack. Inside Anfield, banners played on Oasis lyrics, and a "Cheats" T-shirt asked "What's The Story, Tainted Glory?" Liam Gallagher tweeted he was mingling with fans outside the stadium. City fans brought inflatable bananas, continuing a tradition from their lower-league years, showing they could laugh at the situation.
Relegation remains a possible punishment for City.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing