Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have warned that a 'stain' will continue to hang over Manchester City and the Premier League until the club's financial charges are finally resolved.
City's victory at Liverpool on Sunday, which hinged on Ryan Gravenberch's controversial dismissal, took them back to the top of the Premier League ahead of champions Arsenal. But the win was inevitably overshadowed after the independent Premier League commission found Manchester City in breach of the Premier League's financial rules. City have denied wrongdoing and have lodged an appeal. Commentator Peter Drury described the game as "the most peculiar day in Premier League history."
"We're sat here not knowing what it means," reflected Gary Neville. "City supporters will be delighted [with the win], but I don't think they recognise right now the stain, the stigma and the damage this is going to do to them." Liverpool fans were singing 'going down' and shouting 'cheats', and Neville said that was impossible to escape.
Jamie Carragher added: "In some ways, the feeling around Manchester City will only grow the more they win. We need a resolution as soon as possible." 'Cheat' banners were unfurled by both sets of fans, with every touch by a City player greeted by a chant of 'cheat' in the final minutes. Neville said a banner reading 'A generation of supporters have been cheated' was devastating, adding that the mood around the country could last 10-15 years.
Neville added that the performance deserved celebration, as City withstood a difficult opening spell at Anfield before coming out on top. "But there's a 'but', isn't there?" he said. City go three points clear at the top of the league, but there is a feeling that this is not where Manchester City will ultimately finish.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing