Plethora of Boos, ‘cheat’ taunts greet Manchester City’s arrival at Anfield

Merchandise sellers outside the stadium were doing strong trade in flags and T-shirts with the word “CHEATS” printed. | Photo Credit: AP

Manchester City reached Anfield on Sunday only for the side to be met with the immediate aftermath of the financial-rules ruling before kick-off.

The Premier League leader travelled to Merseyside for its first match since an independent commission found it guilty of 114 breaches of the league’s financial regulations, and Liverpool’s fans made their feelings unmistakable.

Manchester City’s team announcement was largely inaudible amid deafening boos and repeated chants of “Going down, going down, going down!”, a reference to the possibility of relegation as a punishment.

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One banner declared: “A Generation Of Supporters Cheated,” while other supporters displayed three balloons marked with the number 114.

City’s travelling support responded with inflatable bananas, a light-hearted tradition linked to the club’s spell outside England’s top division during the 1980s.

Merchandise sellers outside the stadium were doing strong trade in flags and T-shirts with the word “CHEATS” printed.

One flag showed former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola beside players including Erling Haaland in black-and-red prison uniforms, with “CHEATS” across their backs and the number 114 displayed as a prisoner number.

It was dark humour with a footballing edge, and evidence that the verdict’s impact had moved swiftly from the commission’s findings into the hostile atmosphere of a Premier League matchday.

Merseyside Police were on heightened alert after a social-media post encouraged a “Bus greeting,” raising fears that Manchester City’s coach could also be targeted.

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However, although Liverpool supporters gathered along Anfield Road with flares and anti-City chants, the visitors used a different route and arrived with only a small crowd present.

In 2018, Manchester City’s team bus was hit by bottles, cans and flares before a Champions League fixture at Anfield, suffering damage that was severe enough such that a replacement bus was needed for the return trip to Manchester.