Man City's statement win has feeling of irrelevance with season in limbo

Manchester City record what they will view as a statement win at Liverpool – but is it a statement that carries any weight during a Premier League season in limbo, asks Phil McNulty? Liverpool fans express their disgust towards Manchester City during the Premier League game at Anfield Manchester City made what they will regard as a powerful statement in the most hostile territory against Liverpool at Anfield – but is it a statement that carries any weight during a Premier League season in limbo? City's attention turned to on-field matters in their first game since being found guilty of 114 charges related to breaches of Premier League financial rules between 2009-10 and 2017-18.

The fates, and fixture list, decreed it would be at Liverpool, whose fans nurse the most burning sense of injustice after finishing second to City in 2013-14, 2018-19 and 2021-22. Their argument centres on the belief those titles could have been theirs had City not possessed the high finance of their Abu Dhabi-based owners, using it in the manner that led to them being investigated. With this as the backdrop, City strode into this fevered Anfield atmosphere, with Liverpool fans high on adrenaline and determined to make their contempt for their rivals obvious – then outclassed Andoni Iraola's side in a 3-0 win. On another day,