In a memorable display during and after their emphatic 3-0 victory over Liverpool, Manchester City fans in the away end at Anfield waved £20 notes, laughed loudly, and celebrated with giant yellow inflatable bananas in hand.
This match marked City's first outing since the controversial independent commission's ruling, which found the club guilty on 114 out of 115 charges from the Premier League regarding financial misconduct between 2009 and 2018. The allegations involved an extended scheme of fictitious sponsorship deals that artificially inflated the club's income while understating expenses by £830-900 million. The commission concluded that these agreements concealed direct financial injections from their Abu Dhabi owners, allowing the club to ostensibly comply with financial regulations while signing top talent and clinching trophies. Additionally, the ruling identified issues of non-cooperation with the inquiry and distortions of payments to coaches and players.
City's hierarchy categorically rejected these allegations and has lodged an official appeal, steadfastly insisting on the legitimacy of their titles. The ultimate sanctions remain undecided, with a range of potential punishments still on the table, from significant fines and points deductions to possible exclusion from the Premier League or even harsher measures.
Tense atmosphere and the away fans' response
The ambience at Anfield was hostile from the off. Liverpool fans, whose team had lost out on multiple league titles to City during the period in question, prepared a plethora of banners condemning the club, including slogans like “Guilty 114,” parodies of Oasis lyrics, and merchandise claiming deceit. Every appearance of the visitors, whether in the warm-up or during team announcements, was met with deafening boos.
In response, the Manchester supporters showcased a mix of dark humour and unwavering loyalty. They waved inflatable bananas—a quirky club tradition dating back to the late 1980s, originating from forward Imre Varadi, known as “Imre Banana,” which symbolised carefree support long before the arrival of the sheikhs.
Alongside the bananas, fans brandished bundles of cash, chanting the provocative line, “City will go down with a billion in the bank!” openly showing their vocal support for chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and owner Sheikh Mansour.
On the pitch, Enzo Maresca's side capitalised on their numerical advantage following the red card issued to Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch. Goals from Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, and Ryan Cherki in the second half sealed a dominant 3-0 victory, extending City's winning streak and further solidifying their lead at the top of the table.
