It was the first test of the unknown for Manchester City, but come Sunday evening, the Premier League leaders passed their on-pitch challenge with flying colours.
For all the talk of a fiery atmosphere and players being distracted by off-the-pitch scandal, City went to Anfield and pulled off a statement win amid the chaos buzzing around them.
It’s a result that extends their title-winning credentials, but will this be a championship win that the Premier League has never wanted less?
Anfield romp
This was meant to be the weekend that the City empire crumbled in front of everyone.
With the cracks in the foundations laid bare before the international break, the current team were expected to fall in line and expose the uncertainty circulating the blue side of Manchester.
What happened was a full show of defiance from the class of 2026.
The 3-0 win didn’t just continue Enzo Maresca side’s perfect start to the season, didn’t just inflict Liverpool’s first defeat under Andoni Iraola, but was a full two fingers to the rest of the league, waiting for them to fall on the club’s previous sword.
The manager was full of praise following the game, congratulating his players for creating their own noise, amid everything else that is being said and aimed at the club following being found guilty of breaching financial regulations.
Maresca said, “It was not easy for the players after the last two or three weeks but I felt they dealt with the situation very good.
“We need to learn how to deal with the outside noise. Because of the situation the noise will always be there.
“At the same time we need to try to make our own noise. That is to win games, like we have done today.
“At the end of the game our fans were signing, so the noise was from us and not from the environment.”
For the current side, it was job done and first task completed, but now it puts in place the awkward question, what happens next if this continues to be City’s season?
Matt McNulty/Getty Images
A tainted title?
The current uncertainty is made worse by the unknown consequences of City’s actions if they do end up losing their appeal – which could almost make City’s win at Anfield completely irrelevant in the final telling of this sorry story.
Everything from retrospective trophies being stripped to points deductions and fines and even expulsion from the league has been discussed, but no one is clear on what punishment would be laid out.
Therefore, a Manchester City title victory in 2026-27 would actually be the last thing the league needs – especially if the case continues to drag towards the end of the campaign.
Imagine a scenario where City are leading the way in a fierce title battle with Arsenal or whoever else, only for a points haul to be taken off them, or even an instant demotion?
It would make a mockery of this season’s competitiveness and place an unfair punishment on the current team and their achievements – even with the caveat of what sort of team they would have been if it weren’t for City’s so-called cheating. Michael Regan/Getty Images
The simplest thing would be to end this case as quickly as possible, but having waited three years to get to this point, no one is holding their breath – especially given there is an appeal to be heard.
The longer it takes, the bigger the ‘us against them’ mentality will continue to grow, at least inside the dressing room at the Etihad, whether that is seen as right or wrong.
With Pep Guardiola set to be in attendance for Wednesday night’s Champions League clash with PSG, the inner surge around the club will only continue to fester.
If that surge leads them all the way to another title in 2027, then there’s an even bigger and more awkward call to make, and one that the Premier League are probably secretly hoping they won’t have to make.
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