Merseyside Police have confirmed that an “appropriate policing operation” will be in place for Liverpool’s match at home to Manchester City this weekend.
City travel to Anfield on Sunday afternoon in what will be their first game since an independent commission found them guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons.
City deny any wrongdoing and appealed against the commission’s verdict last week.
Policing operation details
Liverpool are reported to be one of four Premier League clubs that in 2024 reserved their right to seek compensation, and there have been suggestions that there could be supporter disruption ahead of Sunday’s game.
Merseyside Police say they will police the occasion accordingly, as they would any other major sporting event, but no provisions have been put in place to ensure extra police are on the ground.
Previous incidents and atmosphere
There have been previous incidents involving the City team bus on its way to Anfield.
But Liverpool sources have said that it is “business as usual” despite the fact that City will expect a hostile atmosphere.
Stakes for both clubs
Liverpool are one of the clubs that could benefit the most from City’s guilty verdict, depending on potential sanctions if their appeal fails, having finished as runners-up when City won the Premier League title in 2013/14 before losing on penalties in the 2015/16 Carabao Cup final at Wembley.
City are currently top of the Premier League table having won all of their opening five top-flight games under new boss Enzo Maresca, while Liverpool are down in sixth place despite an unbeaten start to the season under Andoni Iraola.
