Liverpool may have been well beaten by Manchester City, but the Anfield PA system ultimately had the last word. After the final whistle, the song “Tell Me Lies” by Fleetwood Mac was played as the players made their way off the pitch, which given the context surrounding the game felt more intentional rather than coincidental.
Fans react to financial verdict
With confirmation of an independent commission finding Man City guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations over a nine-season period between 2009/10 and 2017/18, Liverpool fans were always going to be fired up for Sunday’s meeting. During the period in question, the Reds finished as runners-up to City once and also lost to them in a cup final.
While City deny any wrongdoing and have appealed against the verdict, that did not stop Liverpool supporters from making their feelings about the club perfectly clear. Outside the ground, independent merchandise sellers had been selling flags and scarves featuring many mocking references to City’s charges.
Hostile atmosphere inside Anfield
Inside Anfield the atmosphere was - as expected - vitriolic as Man City players were subject to plenty of boos and whistles as soon as they emerged from the tunnel to warm-up, along with chants accusing City of being “cheats”. Furthermore, a series of banners dotted around Anfield carried slogans such as: “A generation of supporters cheated,” and “And after all, you really robbed us all.”
Other banners - many of which referenced song lyrics by famous Man City fans Oasis - read: “Sham Pain Supernova”, “All of your stars are fading away,” and “Look back in anger, Shamchester.”
City triumph on pitch
City’s players, though, stuck together and ruthlessly punished Ryan Gravenberch’s red card just after the hour mark with three goals in a devastating 13-minute spell to maintain their perfect start to the Premier League season. However, the statement 3-0 win was not enough to end the taunting. Loud chants of “cheats” were heard around the stadium during the closing stages whenever a City player touched the ball.
The pre-match playlist also included songs such as ‘It’s not right but it’s OK’ by Whitney Houston and Calvin Harris’ ‘Blame’. Liverpool are back in action on Wednesday, facing LASK in the Champions League on the same night as Man City welcome holders Paris Saint-Germain to the Etihad Stadium.
