Manchester City will arrive at Anfield on Sunday with a perfect start to the Premier League season, having won every match so far this campaign. The visit is set to test the newly appointed manager Enzo Maresca and his squad against Liverpool, who are eager to reverse the fortunes of the last decade’s title races. The fixture carries extra weight after an independent commission found City guilty of most of the 115 charges the Premier League had lodged against the club, a verdict that has prompted City to defend the legitimacy of their six Premier League trophies.
During a December 2024 match at Anfield, City were trailing 2‑0 when the Liverpool crowd chanted “you’re getting sacked in the morning” at Guardiola. The Spanish manager responded by raising six fingers, a nod to the six league titles he has won with the club. Although the Premier League’s investigation has cast a shadow over those successes, City’s new boss Maresca has insisted that the trophies are “absolutely not” tainted. He said the club will approach the game with the same intensity that has characterised their recent dominance, hoping to keep their unbeaten streak alive.
Liverpool’s new manager, Andoni Iraola, welcomed the challenge, describing the match as “exciting” and “open.” He noted that both teams are in fine form, with City at the summit of the table and Liverpool looking to build on a strong start to the season. Iraola added that the fixture is a “great opportunity” for the Reds to spark their campaign, acknowledging the difficulty of playing at Anfield—a venue he has called “like no other stadium in the world.” The match will be the first since 2015 without either Klopp or Guardiola on the touchline, but the atmosphere is expected to be hostile, with Liverpool chairman Tom Werner in attendance.
Liverpool finished second to City in the 2013‑14, 2018‑19 and 2021‑22 seasons, missing out on the title by narrow margins. Former Liverpool goal‑keeping coach John Achterberg expressed frustration at the perceived injustice, saying the club could have won more titles had they not been denied by City on those occasions. Iraola responded that the uncertainty surrounding the appeal is the most unsettling aspect, but he urged his players to focus on the present match and to strive for the best possible result.
Security arrangements will be in place for the Sunday game, with police and club officials coordinating to ensure a safe environment. Liverpool fans have already begun preparing banners and flags for the occasion, and there are rumours that supporters may greet the visiting team’s bus on Anfield Road. Despite the heightened security, the club’s stance remains “business as usual,” and they are preparing for a match that promises to be as intense on the pitch as it has been in the headlines.