'Verdicts likely to have galvanising and positive effect on City players'
'Verdicts likely to have galvanising and positive effect on City players'
Tue, October 6, 2026 at 11:20 AM UTC
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Manchester City reporter Simon Bajkowski from the Manchester Evening News says the guilty verdicts handed down to the club relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations are likely to have a "galvanising" effect on Enzo Maresca's side.
City travel to rivals Liverpool on Sunday in their first match back after an international break during which the verdict was announced.
"It's more likely to have a positive effect on the players than it is to have a negative impact," Bajkowski told BBC Radio Manchester.
"It's a get-out-of-jail-free card all season for the players and Maresca if they want it, but I don't think they will take it.
"They will do everything on the pitch to win titles for City - then, if they are taken away, that is nothing the players can control. What they can control is being the best team in the Premier League this season and that will be the message."
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The visit to Anfield marks a meeting with the side who have three times finished runners-up to City in the Premier League, including once during the period covered by the verdict.
"It's going to be interesting," Bajkowski added. "It's one of those games where the whole world will be watching to see what happens.
"Liverpool at Anfield this season have been a bit sticky and not gelled yet under Andoni Iraola. It's traditionally a very tough place for City to go. It was made tougher in the Pep era as he wound up the fans and got into those games.
"Whether Maresca does the same or tries to keep the noise out of it will be interesting to see. Before a ball is kicked, all eyes will be on the Manchester City bus, whether that makes it safely in and what reception that gets.
"Then it is how much noise and anger there is in the stadium towards the City players because Liverpool are obviously one of the teams who have lost out the most from City's cheating."
Listen to full chat below or on BBC Sounds here
Source: “AOL Sports”
