Toxicity and uncertainty await Man City - will their season even matter?
Manchester City visit Liverpool on Sunday with a lot of uncertainty hanging over them. Phil McNulty looks at what lies ahead.
When Manchester City arrive at Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday, they will enter a toxic atmosphere unlike any they have experienced before. The relationship between the two clubs has been fraught with tension for over a decade, with Liverpool fans believing they should have won more titles than City due to their vast financial resources.
City's new head coach Enzo Maresca insists his team is innocent and launches an appeal against the guilty verdict handed down by an independent commission. As the Premier League weighs the potential punishment, each victory and league table placement will be clouded by the uncertainty of a possible points deduction or even expulsion.
The uncertainty surrounding City's season has even led to the suggestion that the entire season could be rendered meaningless. Former England striker Alan Shearer calls it "the biggest thing to happen to the Premier League since it started in 1992", highlighting the severity of the situation. Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola acknowledges the uncertainty and must focus on leading his team to victory, regardless of the off-field issues.
The hostile atmosphere at Anfield will be in full force, with Merseyside Police prepared to maintain order.
Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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