Liverpool fans greet Man City with 'cheats' chants in first match since 114-charge verdict

Manchester City’s first appearance since being found guilty of 114 Premier League charges was met with sustained hostility at Anfield, where Liverpool supporters made their feelings unmistakably clear before a ball had even been kicked.

The chants began before City’s players reached the pitch. “You cheating bas*, you know what you are” rang around the ground as Gianluigi Donnarumma and backup goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli were met with loud boos during the warm-up. Erling Haaland and the rest of the City squad received the same treatment when they emerged shortly after, though Haaland appeared unfazed by the reception.

Outside Anfield, vendors had moved quickly to capitalise on the moment. Stalls offered scarves, T-shirts and flags referencing City’s guilt — one scarf reading ‘Shamchester City - The Cheats’, while a large flag depicted Pep Guardiola, Haaland and teammates dressed in prison uniforms.

Travelling City supporters offered a response of their own. The most prominent banner in the away end read: ‘In Khaldoon We Trust - We’ve Won It All’ — a reference to City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak, who is leading the club’s appeal and has maintained there is evidence to prove their innocence.

As kick-off approached, the atmosphere inside the ground intensified. ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ briefly broke the cycle of abuse, but the chants of “Cheats, cheats, cheats” quickly resumed. Ruben Dias gathered his teammates in a huddle and barked out instructions as City prepared to face a challenge that, by all accounts, was as much psychological as it was footballing.