"our confidence and intent in proving the club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began," Khaldoon Al Mubarak said as Manchester City headed into a Premier League trip that feels bigger than the table. City have been found guilty of the majority of the 115 charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial rules, covering a nine-season period between 2009 and 2018. The appeal began on 1 October and is expected to take up to 12 weeks.

City’s appeal and possible sanctions

Ferran Soriano called the case against City "a single false accusation" and described it as "the Premier League’s conspiracy theory" in comments reported by the Independent. That is the backdrop to a process that could still drag on for months, with the article saying a decision is expected between January and March, while also noting the panel must deliver its verdict within 30 days of the final day of the appeal hearing.

The sanctions talk is broader than a routine disciplinary case. The Independent says section W.64 of the Premier League handbook allows an unlimited fine, transfer bans, points deductions and even expulsion. If expulsion were ever proposed, the league's 20 member clubs would vote and 15 votes would be required. The article also says titles won during the relevant period could be stripped.

Anfield and the mood around the fixture

This is City's first Premier League game since being found guilty of the financial-rule breaches, and Liverpool fans are expected to create a particularly hostile atmosphere at Anfield. The setting matters because this is not a flat fixture. Liverpool sit 7th with 9 points from 5 matches, while City are top of the Premier League with 15 points from 5 matches.

The recent meetings underline why the ground will be on edge. City won 2-1 at Anfield on 2026-02-08, and Liverpool were beaten 4-0 at home by City on 2026-04-04. The football still matters, but the legal case now hangs over every part of the night, and the appeal remains the bigger story than the result itself.

FAQ

Why is Manchester City’s trip to Anfield such a big off-field story?

Manchester City have been found guilty of the majority of the 115 charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial rules. They launched their appeal on 1 October, the process is expected to take up to 12 weeks, and Liverpool fans are expected to create a particularly hostile atmosphere at Anfield.

What sanctions could Manchester City face if their appeal fails?

The Independent says the Premier League handbook's section W.64 allows an unlimited fine, transfer bans, points deductions and even expulsion. If expulsion were proposed, the league's 20 member clubs would vote and 15 votes would be required.

Will the appeal decision come between January and March?

The Independent says the decision is expected between January and March, but the article also notes the panel must deliver its verdict within 30 days of the final day of the appeal hearing, so the exact timing is uncertain.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →