Brief

Liverpool face Manchester City with five £100m players amid financial verdict fallout

Both sides could line up five players bought for at least £100 million as the financial verdict on City adds tension to the Anfield clash.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sat, 10 Oct 2026 21:57:33 GMT

Liverpool and Manchester City are set to meet at Anfield on Sunday, a match that could feature five players whose fees exceed £100 million, according to the Independent.

What happened

The fixture follows an independent commission’s finding that City breached financial rules, involving more than £900 million of disguised funding. Liverpool’s summer net spend topped the league, while City remained the biggest spender in 2026. Injuries have forced Liverpool to omit Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitieke, leaving Lewis Koumas, a rookie who has yet to start a Premier League game, as a possible striker.

What the reports add

The Independent notes that Liverpool’s nine‑figure players include Florian Wirtz (initial £100 million fee, potentially rising to £116 million) and Bradley Barcola (£106 million, possibly up to £123 million). City’s high‑cost midfielders are Elliot Anderson (£116 million) and Enzo Fernandez (£125 million). The article also mentions that City’s spending has been described as the largest in the Premier League for 2026.

What was said

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola said, “We also have other players who can cover the positions. When you coach Liverpool you still have very good players available. I trust the players we have ready to go,” as reported by the Independent. He added, “I think he can cover the three positions up front. He’s a super‑valuable player for us,” referring to Barcola.

How it came about

The match follows a series of financial‑related stories at Felo News, including the verdict on City’s breaches (Man City financial verdict Anfield clash) and the club’s appeal. Liverpool’s strategy of prioritising quality over quantity, despite a total spend of more than £650 million across three transfer windows, is highlighted as a contrast to City’s larger outlays.

Key facts

• Liverpool could field five £100m‑plus players against Manchester City (independent.co.uk)
• Manchester City were found guilty of 114 of 115 financial breaches involving over £900m (independent.co.uk)
• Injuries have ruled out Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitieke for Liverpool (independent.co.uk)
• Liverpool’s £100m signings are Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola (independent.co.uk)
• City’s £100m‑plus midfielders are Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez (independent.co.uk)

Sources

• [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “How Liverpool v Man City casts awkward new light on Premier League’s big-money model”