Man City fans brought inflatable bananas to Anfield, reviving a famous tradition as the club’s financial charges remain in the spotlight.
Manchester City - Man City
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Man City supporters brought inflatable bananas to Anfield for their clash with Liverpool. The display brought back a tradition that has been part of the club’s fan culture since the late 1980s. It came amid the latest news on the club’s financial charges, with City appealing the verdict. It also gave City supporters a way to show their defiance amid a tense atmosphere.
Man City Fans Respond to Hostile Anfield Reception
As reported by The Guardian, Man City supporters responded with chants and inflatable bananas as they made their way into the stadium. The familiar yellow objects stood out among the sky-blue shirts in the away section. Their presence offered a lighter moment during a matchday dominated by controversy.
Manchester City supporters faced a hostile welcome when they travelled to Anfield on October 11. Liverpool fans displayed banners and chanted against City following the recent verdict on the club’s financial rule breaches. Police took extra security measures around the stadium to prevent trouble before kick-off. The match itself ended in a 3-0 win for City. Erling Haaland, Jérémy Doku and Rayan Cherki scored as the visitors secured all three points. The result came after Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch was sent off in the second half.
The display also showed how supporters can respond to criticism in different ways. Liverpool fans made their frustration clear, while City’s travelling support backed their club. For the visitors, the bananas were a reminder of their history rather than just a reaction to the banners around Anfield.
Last 5 meetings between Liverpool and Manchester City:
DATE COMPETITION RESULT
Oct 11, 2026 Premier League Liverpool 0–3 Man City
April 4, 2026 FA Cup (Quarter finals) Man City 4-0 Liverpool
February 8, 2026 Premier League Liverpool 1-2 Man City
November 9, 2025 Premier League Man City 3-0 Liverpool
February 23, 2025 Premier League Man City 0-2 Liverpool
Man City Banana Tradition Began in the 1980s
The inflatable banana is not a new sight among City supporters. The tradition began in the late 1980s, when fans brought large yellow inflatables to matches. It soon became one of the most recognisable features of the club’s football matchday culture.
Manchester City’s official website revisited the story in its feature, “Bananas”. The club explains that the exact origins are difficult to confirm. Some accounts point to fan Frank Newton and the fanzine Blue Print, while another theory links the trend to former striker Imre Varadi and the chant “Imre Banana”.
The craze reached a high point during the 1988-89 season. City fans brought different inflatables and fancy dress to matches, creating a lively atmosphere during a difficult period for English football. The Premier League club also recalls a Boxing Day trip to Stoke City in 1988, when thousands of travelling supporters helped turn the match into a colourful occasion.
The bananas later became part of the club’s wider identity. Their return at Anfield showed how old fan traditions can still carry meaning for a new generation of supporters.
Manchester City - Man City
Man City Supporters Use History to Show Their Loyalty
The atmosphere around Anfield reflected the anger surrounding City’s financial case. Liverpool supporters made their feelings clear through banners and chants, while City fans continued to back their club. The inflatable bananas stood out against the tense scenes and brought a familiar piece of football culture back into view.
City’s performance then gave their travelling support more reason to celebrate. The visitors scored three times after the break to seal an emphatic win. However, the financial case remains a separate issue, with the club having appealed the verdict.
For City supporters, the bananas were more than a colourful matchday prop. They were a link to the club’s past and a show of support during a difficult period. At Anfield, the old tradition returned on a day when tension dominated much of the attention.
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