John Aldridge has weighed in on the chances of Liverpool being retrospectively awarded a Premier League title if Manchester City is stripped of past honors if it loses its FFP charges appeal
he Premier League trophy is seen during the 2025 FA Community Shield match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace
One Liverpool legend has said he would not be opposed to the club being awarded a Premier League trophy if Manchester City are eventually stripped of their titles(Image: Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Liverpool legend John Aldridge has said he would not be opposed to the Reds being retrospectively awarded a Premier League title in the event Manchester City is stripped of theirs.
The football world was shaken on Friday when reports emerged that the Manchester club had been found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges lodged against it by the Premier League. City, of course, intends to appeal the independent panel's verdict, which could drag the case on even longer.
A likely appeal also means the potential punishment may not become clear for quite some time. But given the scale of the reported verdict, fans and pundits alike have already started discussing what suitable sanctions would be.
One of those discussed is retrospectively stripping City of its titles and redistributing them elsewhere. Given the charges span from 2009 to 2018, Liverpool would have been league champion in the 2013/14 season after it finished runner-up to its rival.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Aldridge shared his views on the possible sanctions and what they could mean for the Reds. "They beat us to titles. On the pitch, they deserved them," he began.
"Of course they did. But just how possible would it all have been without what came before it? It had an effect but how far back can you go? What can you do?
Liverpool players during the Liverpool Premier League Champions parade in May 2025
Liverpool last celebrated a Premier League title triumph in 2025(Image: Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"That's what really frustrates Liverpool fans, Arsenal fans, Manchester United because it's enabled them to build a massive force in world football whilst they've been cheating. I can’t talk for the players in the Liverpool squad in 2013/14 and whether they’d want City stripped of the title and it be given to them.
"But if it was me, I wouldn’t say no! You wouldn’t say no. But it’s more than just the team that would have won the title.
"It’s the team that missed out on the Champions League, the team that missed out on Europe, the team that went down in 18th. They’re all affected, every year. Where does it end?"
With all that said, there have been some suggestions, notably in a report from the BBC, that there is little appetite to strip City of all its titles and dish them out to other clubs. While it cannot be ruled out entirely, future punishment such as points deductions, fines or expulsion is more likely.
In the meantime, Liverpool will soon turn its focus to Man City's trip to Anfield in the Premier League in mid-October. It will be the first game back for both clubs after the international break and will no doubt produce a lively atmosphere in light of recent developments.
Interestingly, City is currently top of the league standings after five games with a 100 percent record so far. Liverpool, meanwhile, is six points adrift and will hope to change that with a victory over its rival in a little over a week's time.