Former Liverpool star Steven Gerrard has been discussing Manchester City's chances of winning the Premier League, while the team's case with the league is hanging over the rest of the division
Steven Gerrard during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Steven Gerrard has been discussing Manchester City's case with the Premier League(Image: (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images))
Steven Gerrard has backed Manchester City to win the Premier League title this season, in an outcome that could prove to be a nightmare scenario for the league.
It follows the news breaking over the international break that the club was found guilty on all-but-one of the 115 charges brought against it, with the independent panel finally coming to a conclusion after years of deliberation. The alleged breaches, which the Premier League investigated from 2018 to 2023, covered nine years after the Man City takeover from 2009 until 2018, and it was deemed that there were several rule breaches.
Those included allegations of failing to provide accurate financial information, with accusations of inflated sponsorship revenues, subsequent financial rule breaches as a result of that, and a failure to co-operate with the investigation process - the latter of which had the one charge that the club was not found guilty of. Man City denies any wrongdoing and has appealed the decision.
While the appeal process must now run its course, before the potential of a sanctions board and an appeal to that, the team will continue to play on the pitch to try and continue with business as usual.
That has already created a weird feeling for many, considering how large the case looms over the Premier League, with fans unclear exactly what any of the results mean at this point. A win for Man City against Liverpool on its return from international duty kept the side top of the division, and unbeaten, with a potential title push on the cards.
Former Reds midfielder Gerrard certainly believes that Enzo Maresca's side can win the division, in a case that could prove to be a nightmare for the top flight and could question the integrity of the competition while the guilty verdict is still pending.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 11: Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates scoring the opening goal with Matheus Nunes of Manchester City during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City at Anfield on October 11, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Tom Flathers/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)
Speaking on The Overlap, he said: "Before a ball was kicked, I fancied Arsenal to just carry on, but now, what are we, six, seven games in? I'd put my money on Manchester City, having seen what I've seen yesterday.
"I'd put my money on City. They're just so strong, and then you see the bench, you see Jeremy Doku. I think Doku would walk into 99 percent of the teams in the Premier League. I remember covering the FA Cup Final not so long ago. Doku was top drawer; to have him just to call on off the bench."
It certainly sets up an awkward scenario for the Premier League, should an appeal process and sanction panel not be completed before the end of the season.
However, there are still plenty of games to play between now and then, with a title race that could twist and turn in the coming months, with plenty of tough fixtures at each turn.
Liverpool will have taken some small hope from the way the team competed for the majority of the game against Man City, before the controversial red card against Ryan Gravenberch, though the side seems highly unlikely to be in the title conversation this campaign.
It remains to be seen how it all plays out, however, with a long season ahead for all involved in the division that is still waiting on some key decisions before some clarity is reached.