Anfield welcomed Manchester City to their new reality, a sullied place where every touch is accompanied by cries of “cheat”, any favourable decision is considered proof of further conspiracy and every victory hollow. But Welcome to Hell this was not. The only body of irrefutable evidence in City’s favour since the guilty verdicts landed is that Enzo Maresca’s league leaders appear immune to prosecution and persecution.
That may well change depending on the outcome of City’s appeal and any punishment that eventually arises, likewise the merits and value of a commanding 3-0 win on Liverpool soil. The sight of Erling Haaland savouring a statement victory in front of City’s supporters after the final whistle, while chants of “going down” echoed around the rest of the stadium, captured the schism at the heart of this Premier League season. City were transformed by the introduction of Jérémy Doku and the dismissal of the Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch.
They were never intimidated, always composed and look a genuine threat to Arsenal’s defence of the title. And yet this could prove their last Premier League appearance at Anfield for the foreseeable future. It may be difficult, nigh on impossible, to sustain this level of motivation and desire knowing that relegation beckons.
Knowing that no one outside City will give them credit for another title triumph did not affect them here, however. In the 17 days since news of City’s guilt first emerged, and the gestation period of a prolonged international break, their return to action in a Premier League undermined and distorted by their 114 breaches had been built up as a chastening day of reckoning for Maresca’s side. It proved nothing of the sort.
Anfield can still make its voice heard to seismic effect and in the frantic start when Liverpool flew at City, with a fired-up Ronald Araújo whipping up the crowd after winning a challenge against Antoine Semenyo, the collective sense of injustice at a club pipped three times to the title by those in sky blue inspired Andoni Iraola’s players. But bear pits rarely feature in the corporate packaged world of Premier League entertainment 2026. The “reception committee” for the City team coach before the game was populated by fans carrying selfie-sticks and club shop carrier bags, not an incensed brooding mob.
At half-time the Kop was asked to cheer on corporate guests of the club sponsor Standard Chartered as they took part in a penalty shootout, many clearly kicking a ball for the first time in their lives. There were incessant chants of “you cheating bastards” and various banners of damning judgement, many with an Oasis twist that may have been appreciated by Noel Gallagher in the away end. The City support responded in kind.
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