Liverpool fans greet Manchester City with boos and banners after financial‑rule verdict

City arrived at Anfield to boos, chants and protest banners after an independent commission found them guilty of numerous Premier League financial breaches.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sun, 11 Oct 2026 17:08:25 GMT

Manchester City were met with boos, chants and protest banners when they arrived at Anfield for their Premier League clash with Liverpool on Sunday, according to three UK outlets.

What happened

City’s team bus entered Anfield through the staff and contractors’ entrance rather than the usual Anfield Road gate, where many Liverpool supporters had gathered. As the players emerged from the tunnel, crowds shouted “cheats” and other derisive chants. Fans displayed balloons, banners and flares referencing the club’s financial‑rule breaches, including slogans such as “All of your stars are fading away” and “After all you really robbed us all.”

What the reports add

Independent.co.uk noted that the verdict stemmed from 115 charges brought by the Premier League in 2023, with the independent commission finding City guilty of the majority of them. Standard.co.uk reported that Liverpool fans held up balloons referencing the number of charges and that previous incidents had seen the City bus damaged, recalling a 2018 Champions League quarter‑final. Al Jazeera highlighted that the commission described the breaches as “sham deals” that inflated revenues by more than £900 million between 2009 and 2018, and said the fans planned a “flame‑filled” welcome.

What was said

City maintain their innocence and have launched an appeal, claiming to have “irrefutable evidence” of compliance, as reported by Independent.co.uk. Liverpool supporters’ chants and banners accused City of cheating, but no club officials were quoted in the three sources.

How it came about

The hostile atmosphere follows an independent commission’s finding that Manchester City breached Premier League financial rules, a story covered by Felo News in several recent pieces. On 9 October, Felo reported City’s appeal and the expected tense Anfield showdown (Enzo Maresca to address media ahead of Liverpool clash after City verdict). Earlier coverage detailed the 114‑of‑115 breach verdict (Manchester City head to Anfield as managers react to financial breach verdict) and the broader financial‑breach investigation (Independent commission finds Manchester City guilty of 114 financial breaches). The match also saw Liverpool lose midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai to a hamstring injury (Liverpool lose Szoboszlai to hamstring ahead of Man City clash), adding to the pre‑match tension.

Key facts

Manchester City arrived at Anfield to boos and protest banners after an independent commission found them guilty of financial rule breaches. (independent.co.uk)
The commission identified more than £900 million of disguised funding between 2009 and 2018. (aljazeera.com)
City have appealed the verdict and claim to have "irrefutable evidence" of compliance. (independent.co.uk)

Where accounts differ

Number of financial breaches found guilty: found guilty of the majority of 115 breaches (independent.co.uk); referenced the number of charges of which Manchester City have been found guilty (standard.co.uk); found guilty of breaking more than 100 financial rules (aljazeera.com)