Manchester City travel to Anfield on Sunday (17:30) as the only team with a perfect Premier League record after five matches in 2026-27, but the game will be overshadowed by the independent commission’s verdict that found the club guilty of almost all of the 115 charges brought by the Premier League more than three and a half years ago.
City deny any wrongdoing and have appealed. The allegations include using “false” contracts to conceal their true financial figures and allegedly refusing to co-operate with official investigations. The appeal process must be completed within 12 weeks, while Jose Mourinho joked that he could be 80 by the time the saga reaches its conclusion.
Three betting tips
- Manchester City not to lose and both teams to score – 2.02 - Erling Haaland to score – 2.00 - Alexander Isak to score or assist – 2.10
Enzo Maresca’s side have won all five of their league fixtures since losing the Community Shield to Arsenal, with an aggregate score of 13-5. They have also begun their Champions League and League Cup campaigns with victories.
Their latest match brought a 5-3 win against Sunderland at Etihad Stadium, despite Brian Brobbey’s hat-trick. City can expect a far more hostile atmosphere at Anfield, where Liverpool supporters will be particularly motivated by the claims covering the period from 2009 to 2018.
Liverpool finished second in the 2013-14 Premier League season and have won four of their past five matches in all competitions, scoring eight goals and conceding one. They remain unbeaten in the league after two wins and three draws, with a recent 1-0 victory at Bournemouth lifting them to sixth.
The Reds lost all three meetings with Manchester City in 2025-26. This will be the first fixture between the sides since 2015 without Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola giving instructions from the touchline, while the wider consequences of the case could prove as significant as the result.
Liverpool’s Premier League form is N, N, W, N, W, and their overall form is N, W, W, N, W, W. City’s league and overall records are both W, W, W, W, W and W, W, W, W, W, W respectively.
Haaland appeared to limp off while playing for Norway against Portugal during the international break, but Maresca has confirmed there are no serious concerns over the striker’s fitness. Nico O’Reilly (contusion) and Antoine Semenyo (ankle) are not believed to have serious injuries, while Phil Foden completes a three-match league suspension.
Liverpool will be without Alexander Isak, who withdrew from the Sweden squad with a thigh problem, and Cody Gakpo (ankle). Hugo Ekitike is also unavailable for at least several weeks with an Achilles tendon injury. Bradley Barcola could therefore lead the attack. Jeremy Jacquet (thigh) is fit and Federico Chiesa (back) has returned to training, but Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni remain out with knee injuries.
Probable line-ups
Liverpool: Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Munoz; Barcola.
Manchester City: Donnarumma; Nunes, Guehi, Dias, Gvardiol; Fernandez, Anderson; Ndiaye, Cherki, Doku; Haaland.
City’s Nico O’Reilly and Marc Guehi made uncharacteristic mistakes during the international break, possibly with the charges in mind. Liverpool’s depleted attack may still trouble the visitors, but the prediction is that Manchester City will draw on the occasion to leave with a point.