Premier League executives have been discussing whether Manchester City should be suspended with immediate effect amid their financial regulations breach
Manchester City beat Liverpool 3-0 in their first match since the independent commission found them guilty of Premier League financial breaches.
Manchester City beat Liverpool 3-0 in their first match since the independent commission found them guilty of Premier League financial breaches.
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Discussions among Premier League executives have reportedly already been held over whether Manchester City should be expelled with immediate effect. According to the Independent, one senior figure from a top-flight club argued that the impending sanctions for their breaches of financial regulations have created a 'farcical' situation that could turn 'violent'.
City brushed aside the media furore to defeat Liverpool 3-0 on Sunday. Enzo Maresca's side overcame the 10-man Reds in a charged atmosphere at Anfield, where the home supporters directed fierce criticism towards their North West rivals, branding them 'cheats'. The Independent's report claims that executives have already begun contacting one another regarding whether City should face an immediate Premier League suspension, or whether 15 fellow member clubs would push to table such a vote.
Under Rule 6B of the Premier League rulebook, 15 clubs hold the power to vote for expulsion, though it has been suggested this outcome remains highly unlikely given the conflicting opinions among clubs.
Maresca treated the victory, secured through goals from Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki, as a point of pride as his side weathered the hostile environment — the first of what many would expect to be several such occasions.
The Italian said: "Ferran (Soriano) was there, Hugo (Viana) was there.
"For the importance of the game, Liverpool away, I think it's a good idea for the club to be all together. It's togetherness that in this moment we need.
"It was not easy for the players after the past two or three weeks but I think they handled the situation very well. I said during the week, we need to learn how to deal with the outside noise.
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"Because of the situation, the noise will always be there so we need to learn how to deal with it. At the same time, we need try to make our noise by winning games like we did today.
"At the end of the game, it was our fans singing so the noise was from us and not from the Liverpool fans.
"To win at Anfield is a great result, for sure. In this moment, all of the organisation needs this kind of a win so it's good for us as a coaching staff, it's good for the players, it's good for the fans.
"This kind of a win is good for the whole club."
The Independent has drawn attention to a number of conflicting viewpoints, including existing business ties between club owners and Abu Dhabi.
Manchester City's Erling Haaland celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield
Manchester City beat 10-man Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield on Sunday(Image: Getty)
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Furthermore, should the Premier League pursue expulsion, City could seek High Court intervention and potentially secure reinstatement.. Prominent Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher were left deflated following City's demolition of Andoni Iraola's side.
Their reactions come amid mounting uncertainty surrounding the potential sanctions facing the club, as their appeal continues.
Neville said: "We're sat here not knowing what it means. City supporters will be delighted [with the win], but I don't think they recognise right now the stain, the stigma and the damage this is going to do to them.
"Liverpool fans are singing 'going down', they're shouting 'cheats' and you can't get away from that.
"There was a banner over in that far corner which I thought was devastating - 'A generation of supporters have been cheated'. I thought you know, that will be the mood around the country, that for 10-15 years they've been cheated.
"We should be absolutely eulogising over a performance like that, where they've come through and withstood a really difficult opening spell - which is always the case here at Anfield - and then gone on to come out on top.
"But there's a 'but', isn't there? And we're sat here not knowing what this means. We know that Manchester City go three points clear at the top of the league but there's a feeling that ultimately this is not going to be where Manchester City finish.
"It does feel different. There is a 'but', there is a sort of shadow hanging over it - there's a dark cloud that you know has got a load of rain in it, and a massive storm, and you just don't know when it's going to burst but you know it's coming."