Manchester City left Anfield with a 3-0 win over Liverpool in a fixture that carried rather more than the usual weight of a title rivalry, before trouble flared outside the ground after the final whistle.
City make their point at Anfield
The match was City’s first official outing following the ruling on the 114 charges concerning alleged breaches of Premier League financial fair play regulations. Against their principal rivals for domestic honours, they produced a clear away victory and took all three points from one of the division’s most demanding grounds.
- Manchester City won 3-0 at Anfield.
- The game came immediately after the decision involving the club’s 114 financial fair play charges.
- City supporters departed with victory in a major Premier League rivalry.
Tension spills beyond the stadium
The atmosphere around Liverpool had been heated before kick-off and did not settle once the football had finished. As visiting supporters made their way away from Anfield, they encountered Liverpool fans and a series of fights broke out.
Police intervened as disorder developed, using irritant spray against members of the home support. There were also several arrests amid chants of “cheats” directed at the City following the case.
A difficult afternoon in more ways than one
For City, the result represented a forceful raid on a familiar fortress and a significant three points. For Liverpool, an emphatic defeat to a leading rival was followed by ugly scenes outside the stadium, ensuring the afternoon left a sourer taste than the scoreline alone.
