As many as 47 former and current Liverpool players could be retrospectively awarded a Premier League winners' medal if Manchester City are stripped of titles won between 2009 and 2018, with the club facing 115 alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules.
At the end of last week it was widely reported that City have been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges levelled against them by top-flight bosses. City strongly deny the allegations and are expected to lodge an appeal against the decision.
The verdict has come more than three years after the charges, which are for alleged breaches between 2008 and 2019, were first brought against the club in February 2023. There is yet to be official word from the Premier League, with the appeals process potentially causing further delay.
What punishment could Man City face?
City's chief executive officer Ferran Soriano has reportedly told senior members of their Premier League rivals that the process will take 'much more time' to be completed. But if the club are found guilty and the appeal is rejected, then they could face a significant punishment.
Sanctions in the Premier League handbook range from fines and transfer bans to points deductions and even expulsion from the Premier League. The independent panel can also decide to take retrospective action and strip the club of their Premier League titles, as called for by former Reds captain and manager Graeme Souness.
If that does happen, then the titles could conceivably be awarded to the team who finished the respective seasons in second place. Since 2008, Liverpool have finished as runners up to City on three occasions, but only one of these seasons falls within the 2009-2018 period City are charged under.
Which Liverpool players qualify for medals?
Players qualify for a Premier League winners medal if they make five or more appearances in the league throughout the season. Here's a look at the 21 who qualify for the three seasons that the Reds have finished in second behind City.
2013/14
Liverpool finished just two points behind City. The Reds, managed by Brendan Rodgers, held a good lead over their rivals but were agonisingly clawed back, with City overtaking them in the 37th game.
- Simon Mignolet (38 appearances)
- Mamadou Sakho (18 appearances)
- Daniel Agger (20 appearances)
- Martin Skrtel (36 appearances)
- Aly Cissokho (15 appearances)
- Kolo Toure (20 appearances)
- Jose Enrique (8 appearances)
- Glen Johnson (29 appearances)
- Martin Kelly (5 appearances)
- Jon Flanagan (23 appearances)
- Lucas Leiva (27 appearances)
- Jordan Henderson (35 appearances)
- Joe Allen (24 appearances)
- Steven Gerrard (34 appearances)
- Philippe Coutinho (33 appearances)
- Luis Alberto (9 appearances)
- Raheem Sterling (33 appearances)
- Victor Moses (19 appearances)
- Luis Suarez (33 appearances)
- Daniel Sturridge (29 appearances)
- Iago Aspas (14 appearances)
These 21 players would be in line for a medal if the titles are stripped and awarded to second-place finishers.
