Gary Neville has asked Sky Sports bosses to remove him from Manchester City matches in future while their 114 financial charges remain unresolved. A visit to Anfield marked City's first Premier League match since being found in breach of the league's regulations by an independent panel.
The build-up to the fixture was largely dominated by discussion surrounding City's case against the Premier League, with many hoping for a Liverpool victory. However, Enzo Maresca's side refused to follow that script, with Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki finding the net in a 3-0 win.
Neville's request to Sky Sports
A second-half red card for Ryan Gravenberch altered the course of the match, though City were impressive throughout, with Neville particularly taken aback by Elliot Anderson, whom he named player of the match.
Nevertheless, Manchester United legend Neville is finding it challenging to praise City while their saga continues.
"This is the first Manchester City game that I have done today since the charges or guilty verdicts were handed out a few weeks ago," he stated on Sky Sports.
"We were just doing the podcast then and said if you could take me off Manchester City games moving forward for the next few months until the verdicts have been heard, I would be absolutely delighted.
"To come and win at Anfield is really difficult, we should be eulogising over them without a but or any hesitation, but there is that thing in the back of your mind.
"They have done a brilliant job here today. They have dominated the game in the last 20 minutes, from the red card onwards."
Players praised despite cloud
"They have dug in and I think players like [Gianluigi] Donnarumma, [Ruben] Dias and Anderson, in that first-half were excellent. They stood strong as a group."
"At the end of the game it is quite hard because you are imagining basically if these guilty verdicts are confirmed in January or February then Manchester City are not going to be in the position they are in and there is going to be a huge cloud hanging over the whole league.
"Which is not good for the Premier League right now and that is what I have just recognised today. Really bad for the Premier League and it is going to continue for a few months."
Appeals process underway
The appeals process has already began, though a final decision may not arrive for some time. The sanctions hearing is also ongoing, with potential punishments potentially being determined first.
While praise may prove difficult to deliver, both Neville and Jamie Carragher emphasised that the players shouldn't be subjected to hostile treatment.
Neville stated: "That's the problem for the Man City staff, players and supporters, they are blameless in all of this. The stain, stigma, reputational damage that hits them, it's nothing to do with them but they have to face it on the pitch, in the stadium, week after week.
Carragher added: "The players on that pitch they've had to face the criticism. All eyes on this game, you almost look at the director's box thinking they should be on the pitch facing the barrage of criticism."
