Liverpool's clash with Manchester City over the weekend drew eyes across the world, including those of the Mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, who is a big soccer fan
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani attends CultureCon
Zohran Mamdani has been discussing Liverpool vs Manchester City(Image: (Photo by John Nacion/Getty Images))
Zohran Mamdani, the Mayor of New York City, has claimed that Manchester City "shouldn’t even be in the league" as he brutally called out a Liverpool supporting reporter during a recent press conference.
The 34-year-old, a well-known Arsenal fan, may have been one of many onlookers around the world who tuned in for the huge match over the weekend, which saw the Reds take on Enzo Maresca's side in a clash that was dripping in narrative.
Much of the build-up was focused on the visitors at Anfield, following the publication of a verdict from an independent panel that had deemed Man City to be guilty on all but one of its 115 charges brought against it by the Premier League.
Those charges included the inability to report accurate financial information, with claims that the club had inflated its revenue through "sham" sponsorship contracts. When factoring that into the financial reports from the timeframe the investigation covered, there are also historic breaches of financial rules, as well as claims of non-compliance with the investigation itself.
Man City, in response, has denied any wrongdoing and has appealed the decision, while the Premier League has outlined a clear hope that the final verdict and any potential subsequent punishments will be concluded before the end of the current season.
That has left a strange feeling around the remaining games that the team has to play in the meantime, starting off with the match against Liverpool.
While the Anfield crowd was fired up from the start, a sense of acceptance washed over the stadium after Ryan Gravenberch's red card, as a 15-minute collapse saw Man City score three goals to take a 3-0 victory. Many left the ground unsure of exactly what it meant for the overall look of the Premier League this season, highlighting the bizarre nature of the situation.
In the aftermath, some rival fans have poked fun at Liverpool, including the Mayor of New York City, Mamdani. The Arsenal supporter picked out a journalist he knows in the crowd, who supports the Reds, and said: "How are you as a Liverpool fan right now?"
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 11: Liverpool fans hold a banner reading 'And after all, you really robbed us all' before the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City at Anfield on October 11, 2026 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)
Liverpool may have missed out on millions as a result of Manchester City's rule breaking(Image: Getty Images)
The reporter was unable to really say much before Mamdani added: "I mean, you got beat by a team that shouldn’t even be in the league," to which the reporter responded: "I want comment on that."
It sums up the strangeness of the situation, as fans are left to suspend their belief over a season that is clearly in danger of being turned on its head, regardless of the final decision regarding Man City's case.
For now, however, Liverpool, along with many other Premier League teams, will be left waiting to see the next direction that the case will twist and turn in.
The league's handbook states that an appeal hearing must be heard within 12 weeks, while another verdict must be given 30 days after, setting out a timeline for early next year.
Beyond that, if needed, a sanctions panel will then have to decide on any applicable punishment, which is also subject to an appeals process. It sets up a difficult remainder of the season for every club, all of which may be unsure of what the league table may look like for this campaign and beyond.