Premier League pundits are split over the outcome of this weekend's Liverpool vs Manchester City match at Anfield, with Andoni Iraola told the game is a 'must-not-lose' encounter. The fixture marks City's first domestic appearance since an independent commission found them guilty of all but one of their alleged financial breaches. The club has appealed the verdict and maintains its innocence.
Financial verdict context
City were found guilty of engaging in a scheme to inflate revenues and reduce costs by around £900 million across a nine-season period. The commission ruled City guilty on all charges of breaching financial rules between 2009-10 and 2017-18. The report stated that City used 'sham' commercial deals to disguise owner funding and arrangements to lower operating costs such as coach and player wages.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters called the case and the decision "the most significant in Premier League history". City, who currently sit top of the league, are widely expected to receive a hostile reception at Anfield as they return to domestic competition.
Paul Merson: 'Must-not-lose game'
Speaking to Sky Sports, Paul Merson said: "It's a huge game [for Andoni Iraola]. If they go and draw this game on Sunday against Manchester City, if you're at Bournemouth, that's a good result. If you're at Liverpool and you haven't beaten Manchester City at home and there's no [Erling] Haaland, this is headline news. It'll be another game where he's not won a game at home, but I do like the manager."
Merson added: "You don't want to be nine points behind. I know it's still early, there's lots of games, but at the same time, when you're looking up and if Manchester City are nine points ahead of you, it's not an ideal position to be in. They're going to have to be aggressive. They have to go and try and win the game because they don't want that gap to increase."
He concluded: "It's a must-not-lose game. And the longer this season goes on, the players will get used to playing under the manager. Hopefully [Florian] Wirtz will find his form. I'm a big fan of Wirtz and he just hasn't got going at the moment. And hopefully, the more confidence the manager gives him and they get passages of play, then Liverpool will start on a charge."
Alan Shearer: 'Erling Haaland factor'
Speaking to Betfair, Alan Shearer said: "This is a huge game. Liverpool are coming into this one with a few injuries off the back of the international break, but City have injury doubts with Haaland as well after he came off for Norway."
Shearer predicted: "I don't think City have got a great record there at Anfield. So, I'm going to go home win for Liverpool in what will be a red hot atmosphere. You can just imagine how the fans will be at Anfield." His prediction: Liverpool win.
Chris Sutton: 'A mammoth game'
Chris Sutton told BBC Sport: "It's a mammoth game. Everyone is looking at this game to see if City's players appear deflated and how much it will affect them. We don't know what the implications are for this season, either."
Sutton added: "They are top of the league at the moment but will they get a massive points deduction that changes that? I've heard people suggest that City's players will be frazzled because of what is going on with the club off the pitch, but I don't see it that way."
He predicted: "Based on all of that, I am going for City here. I can just picture Erling Haaland scoring their winner, and celebrating with a big grin on his face." Sutton's prediction: Liverpool 1-2 Man City.
