LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Manchester City managed to avoid a hostile reception from Liverpool fans by taking an alternative route to Anfield for their Premier League clash on Sunday.
City's team bus has been targeted by Liverpool fans in the past as rivalries have grown between the teams. In the aftermath of City being found guilty of a raft of financial breaches another fierce welcome was expected.
But the team largely avoided the crowds by taking a back road into the stadium.
Back door entry at Anfield for Man City https://t.co/zltGxJZ85A
— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) October 11, 2026
Inside, there was a taste of things to come as the City lineup was loudly jeered by the home fans.
The boos were even louder by kickoff, with chants of “going down.”
An independent panel found City artificially inflated its revenue by more than $1 billion to help sign some of soccer’s biggest stars as it went on to dominate the Premier League.
City has appealed, but potential punishment could include a massive fine, points deductions or even expulsion.
Liverpool was City's biggest rival for a period — twice missing out on the league title by a single point.
“They should be stripped of everything they’ve won,” Liverpool fan Sav Agathangelo said. "The moment has gone for me to say in the season when we finish second, we’re champions.
"I would strip them of everything but I wouldn’t necessarily award it to runners-up or anyone else.”
City arrived at Anfield looking to extend its lead at the top of the standings to three points above second-place Arsenal.
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James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
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