Liverpool will host Manchester City on Sunday in what will be City's first match since being found guilty of financial rule breaches, according to reports. Internally, Liverpool's reaction to the verdict was one of relief rather than celebration, with the club choosing to maintain public silence at this time, believing it prudent not to comment on the situation.

Liverpool made no special preparations for Sunday's high-profile match after Manchester City was found guilty by an independent Premier League commission last week for breaching the vast majority of financial regulations between 2009 and 2018. The club recently communicated with key stakeholders as usual, confident it is fully capable of hosting the match normally from an operational standpoint.

This fixture is particularly dramatic as it marks Manchester City's first game since the confirmation of their breaches. There have been discussions about heightened security for the match, but according to current information, Merseyside Police do not plan to implement special measures on the day. Sources at Anfield indicate that the club has a long tradition of hosting major fixtures and therefore does not anticipate any unusual circumstances for a match of this calibre.

Objectively, when Manchester City's guilty verdict was confirmed on 29 September, the atmosphere within Liverpool was not one of celebration. The Reds could have reason to believe their trophy cabinet would be richer in recent years had Manchester City not built an advantage through nearly £900 million in inflated revenues. For instance, in the 2013/14 season, Brendan Rodgers' side finished second, two points behind Manuel Pellegrini's Manchester City; and in the early stages of Jürgen Klopp's tenure, the Reds also lost to their rivals on penalties in the League Cup final in early 2016. The cascading effects of City's breaches allowed them to assemble a squad under Pep Guardiola that outpaced Klopp's team 98-97 on points in 2019, and again 93-92 three years later.

However, when the news broke, with Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters stating that Manchester City had "systematically breached Premier League rules for nearly a decade," the prevailing emotion among club staff was reportedly not anger or joy, but relief.

For many at Anfield, the independent commission's decision last week came as no surprise. The only surprise was the severity of some of the language in the 40-page central document of the ruling, released by the Premier League that day. Particularly at management and ownership levels, key figures at Liverpool have long strongly supported rigorous enforcement of Financial Fair Play or similar regulations, and Fenway Sports Group has never hidden its desire to see such a system implemented since completing its takeover 16 years ago this month.

Liverpool owner John W. Henry stated in 2013: "The big question is how effective will the financial fair play rules be." He added, presciently: "Perhaps some clubs support this concept merely to limit the spending of other clubs, while taking actions specifically designed to circumvent the very rules they claim to support."

The Reds were one of four clubs that explicitly reserved the right to claim compensation in 2024, to be invoked once Manchester City was found guilty. This investigation began in 2023, stemming from emails leaked by German magazine Der Spiegel in 2018. Now, Liverpool may join Tottenham, Arsenal, and Manchester United in exploring potential compensation options, with recent reports suggesting possible damages as high as £100 million.

Liverpool first learned of the verdict last month when the Premier League sent a confidential communication to club management, which required signing a non-disclosure agreement before its contents could be viewed.

But at this stage, the Reds, like other Premier League clubs, are publicly silent on Manchester City's fate. Earlier this week, the club's legal department provided guidance to staff on the case, which is currently under appeal. The official broadcaster LFCTV is understood to have also received clear instructions on what could and could not be discussed.

Liverpool currently believes that any public comment on Manchester City's situation would be counterproductive, particularly given City's statement last month when the verdict first emerged, expressing hope that the investigation process would not be "affected by any prejudicial conduct." In that sense, Liverpool's current silence is indeed golden.

Liverpool unveiled a new lounge on Wednesday to honour the "Forever Reds" group. "Forever Reds" is an association of former players, chaired by local commentator John Aldridge, aimed at assisting club legends who may need support in their later years.

The group also extends its charitable activities to broader organisations across Merseyside, including Hillsborough-related charities and foundations such as Alder Hey Children's Hospital. The atmosphere at Wednesday morning's gathering was relaxed, with brief remarks from Jonathan Bamber, the club's Director of Legal and External Affairs. Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler, Steve McMahon, Ian Callaghan, and Sammy Lee were also in attendance.

Aldridge told this publication: "I've been chairman for probably 10 to 12 years, maybe even longer. Look how far we've come—now we're able to raise funds for those in need across the Liverpool area, which was unimaginable in the past. Initially, we raised funds for our own players, but then we discovered that giving them money directly would create tax issues, so the club took it on."

"We raise money now, and the primary aim is to help former players in need. For the rest of the year, we distribute funds to the organisations here today. With help from supporters and external businesses through golf days, Christmas dinners, and the charity match in March—where we split the proceeds with the LFC Foundation—we're in a strong position. It's well deserved; for example, Gerry Byrne's situation was dire when he passed, having contributed so much to Liverpool yet left with nothing. Cases like that affect us deeply, and it's better to do something now than never. We've been able to look after many brilliant players who gave everything for Liverpool in the past, and we'll continue to do so."

Traduzido por IA.

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