Following Manchester City's emphatic victory over Liverpool, Oliver Brown, a journalist from The Daily Telegraph, published a scathing critique of Manchester City's current situation. He stated that Manchester City shows no shame, with players and fans celebrating as though achievements obtained through improper spending are legitimate, openly embracing their status as football pariahs.

It is often said that cheaters never prosper. Yet after Manchester City effortlessly demolished Liverpool and announced their return to dominance, this old saying may need reevaluation. Of course, the players and fans savored the moment, as though success gained through improper spending were legitimate. Blown vuvuzelas, a jubilant Noel Gallagher, and raucous singing from the stands when Gary Neville appeared on the sideline for Sky Sports commentary: the celebration reeked of unmatched arrogance.

Shame? Manchester City, from top to bottom, appears entirely unfamiliar with the word.

They openly embrace their status as football pariahs, with some fans displaying banners designed like the Oasis logo, reading "CHEATERS." On the surface, this was one of Manchester City's most brilliant victories: spurred by a controversial red card for Gravenberch, a fired-up Manchester City inflicted Liverpool's worst home defeat in the Premier League era. Yet ultimately, this victory may prove meaningless—a thought that provides little consolation to the Kop on this difficult afternoon.

As Liverpool fans chanted "You're going down," the Manchester City players in sky blue continued celebrating as though they were innocent angels.

The entire spectacle is nothing but theatre.

This absurd situation will not disappear next week, next month, or even next year. Every Manchester City rout, every spectacular goal, is overshadowed by the possibility that these achievements could be completely expunged from the official record. The team clearly aims to win the league title again, but ultimately, that trophy may be recorded as void or reallocated.

So even as opponents are defeated, they can still mock the victors with impunity. Liverpool's reaction exemplifies this perfectly. In normal circumstances, such a scoreline would humiliate The Reds, and fans would vent their anger at manager Iraola. But this time, they were almost indifferent.

The stadium announcer played Fleetwood Mac's "Little Lies" as the match ended.

It is clear that Manchester City is determined to dominate their rivals. After Cherki scored the team's third goal in 13 minutes, chants of "Attack, attack, attack!" echoed around the stadium, and an emotional Maresca waved his arms enthusiastically, signaling the team's unstoppable momentum. Yet Manchester City Football Club itself is consumed by another fire—one that even the brilliant Haaland cannot extinguish. Indeed, Manchester City is currently in scintillating form, poised to replicate their 100-point achievement from nine years ago. But those very 100 points may be stripped from the club due to years of breaching financial regulations.

This stark contradiction has created one of the strangest atmospheres in English football history: Manchester City's demolition of Liverpool at Anfield is shocking from a competitive standpoint, yet spiritually hollow.

Strong partisan feelings make it difficult to acknowledge, but in the current situation, two facts can coexist. On one hand, you can admire Haaland: scoring quickly after squandering a golden chance, welcomed by his father Alf-Inge in the stands; you can also appreciate Doku's exquisite skill, whose curling goal briefly silenced a thunderous Anfield.

Yet on the other hand, you can also be dismayed by the complacency of Manchester City fans, who wave banners reading "We believe Khaldoon," completely ignoring the true source of the club's current competitive advantage.

The football world has anxiously awaited Manchester City's appeal decision. It is widely believed that a guilty verdict—reached by an independent commission reviewing hundreds of thousands of pieces of evidence—would instill humility in Manchester City. But the scenes from this match suggest otherwise. Manchester City, of course, denies all charges, and the team's ostentatious celebration is utterly unacceptable. Take the vuvuzela, for instance: originally thought to be a nostalgic nod to the 1980s, when waving bananas was popular after Manchester City's relegation to the Second Division. Does it suggest: even if the team drops several divisions, fans will support them as usual?

Such conduct is bizarre, almost bordering on stubborn madness.

This Manchester City under Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan is vastly different from the era managed by Jimmy Frizzell; unlimited wealth has allowed the club to engage in unprecedented rule violations. £900 million—that is the total amount Manchester City successfully inflated through fictitious commercial contracts. Yet the arrogance of the players and supporters at Anfield makes it seem as though they are proud of this. As the match drew to a close, the visiting fans repeatedly chanted: "You're being torn apart by The City."

This mentality is often referred to as a siege mentality.

The entire team under Maresca is deeply entrenched in it: Haaland blew kisses to the away supporters after scoring, and Elliott-Anderson praised his teammates for their fearless courage. But such declarations of loyalty and solidarity are fundamentally superficial. It is certain that the players now professing eternal loyalty to the club will not hesitate to leave once punishment is officially imposed.

Currently, Manchester City holds a tainted yet perfect record. Relying on a lavish squad built with abundant wealth and unwavering resilience, they appear capable of defeating any opponent. Even for them, achieving 38 wins from 38 matches is a significant challenge, but if accomplished, it would yield an ironic 114 points.

Liverpool fans displayed this number with golden balloons, commemorating the number of charges that led to the opponent's guilty verdict; the stands also featured adapted Oasis songs, with banners in the front row of the Kop reading: "And after all, you really did rob us all."

Too dramatic? Not really.

This scandal has stripped much that is precious from football, not least the Premier League's own credibility.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

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