Manchester City have been told exactly what to expect as they face Liverpool in a blockbuster showdown at Anfield today.
As Premier League action resumes following an extended international break, all eyes will be on Sunday's massive showdown between Liverpool and Man City. Two unbeaten records are on the line and new managers are in the dugout, with the fixture expected to produce fireworks from a game that has defined many Premier League seasons in the past decade.
Ultimately though, the focus - at least until the game gets underway - will be Man City being in action for the first time since being found guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations. It is a verdict which City have appealed - but Jamie Carragher believes those implications, coupled with the history between the two clubs, will only serve to fire up the Anfield faithful.
Carragher predicts 'extra spice' at Anfield
"They will get a very hot reception, but that is always the same when Man City come to Anfield," Carragher said when speaking on The Overlap podcast.
"Liverpool and Man City have been the two teams going for the titles and the big trophies over the last decade or so. They have got a really poor record at Anfield really for such a great team.
"That is because of the atmosphere and they have found it difficult. I don't think this will be any different, and there will be an extra spice to it. All eyes will be watching this game and it should be a cracker."
'Brutal day' predicted by Neville
While the period Man City have been investigated for is between 2009 and 2018, many Liverpool supporters still feel aggrieved about title races in 2019 and 2022 when they missed out by a single point on both occasions.
As such, former Manchester United defender Gary Neville is predicting a "brutal day" for City. "If they want an understanding of how angry the game is going to be, then Anfield will tell them," Neville said. "Like you would never believe."
"I suspect there may be banners, there will certainly be chanting. There will be a reception for them like you have never seen. It will be a brutal day."
2018 flashback
Man City know all too well what a hostile Anfield looks like. In fact, prior to a Champions League quarter-final clash in April 2018, their team bus was damaged as Liverpool fans threw bottles and fireworks at the City coach as it arrived at the ground.
Liverpool promptly issued an apology condemning the violence, while Merseyside Police also released a statement on its official website in relation to the damage to the team bus.
