Manchester City are bracing themselves for an exceptionally hostile reception when they step onto the pitch at Liverpool’s Anfield on Sunday, with tensions between the two clubs reaching a new level following the verdict in the Premier League financial rules case.If City could choose any opponent to avoid visiting immediately after being found guilty of all charges relating to alleged financial breaches between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, Liverpool would undoubtedly be among their least desirable destinations.Anfield awaits. Matchday on L4 as we return to #PL action by hosting Manchester City ✊🔴 #LIVMCI https://t.co/2le6zDnfGK— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 11, 2026 The rivalry between the two sides has been marked by friction for years, with Liverpool supporters harbouring a deep sense of frustration over the titles they believe slipped away at City's expense. The Merseyside club finished second behind their rivals in 2013-14, 2018-19 and 2021-22, losing out by just one point in the latter two campaigns.Those battles, particularly during the managerial duels between Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, became the defining rivalry of English football, with both teams repeatedly pushing each other to extraordinary levels.Many Liverpool fans remain convinced that their club would have collected additional Premier League crowns without City's enormous financial resources, which later became the subject of the league's investigation. City supporters, meanwhile, point to the quality of Guardiola's sides and their achievements on the pitch.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Now led by new head coach Enzo Maresca, City arrive at Anfield insisting they have done nothing wrong. The club has appealed the independent commission's guilty verdict and continues to defend its position as the legal battle moves forward.There is another significant detail ahead of Sunday's showdown: City sit at the top of the Premier League table. However, their position comes amid considerable uncertainty, as the league considers potential sanctions while the appeal process continues. The unresolved case threatens to cast a shadow over the campaign, leaving every result and every achievement open to questions about what the eventual consequences might be."Our titles are not tainted": Maresca stands firm as Man City face the chaosThe possible punishments have fuelled extraordinary speculation, ranging from substantial points deductions to relegation or even expulsion from the top flight. Such scenarios have prompted suggestions that the final outcome of the case could fundamentally alter the meaning of the entire season, although any resolution is likely to require a lengthy legal process.Against this backdrop, Sunday's encounter represents City's first league appearance since the verdict, and the timing could hardly be more uncomfortable. Anfield has long been a difficult venue for Guardiola's men, with the rivalry already generating plenty of hostility well before the financial case reached its latest stage.Liverpool's supporters are unlikely to show much patience while waiting for the legal proceedings to conclude or for City's appeal to be resolved. The atmosphere is expected to be charged with anger, resentment and relentless noise, creating a daunting environment for the visitors.##NAJAVA_MECA_10017192##ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 6SaturdayArsenal – Leeds 2-1 (0-0)/Calafiori 62, Guimaraes 70 – Justin 55/Aston Villa – Brentford 2-2 (1-1)/Jackson 12, McGinn 77 – Yarmoliuk 10, Ajer 79/Chelsea – Bournemouth 5-1 (2-0)/Henderson 2, 70, Silva 3 og, Joao Pedro 46, 67 – Evanilson 51/Ipswich – Fulham 2-1 (0-0)/Ouattara 88, O'Shea 90+1 – Sessegnon 55/Sunderland – Brighton 0-2 (0-0)/De Cuyper 53, Hadjam 90+3/Man. Utd. – Tottenham 1-1 (0-0)/Mbeumo 73 – Solanke 90+2/Sunday16.00: (2.65) Crystal Palace (3.20) Nott.Forest (2.75)16.00: (3.60) Hull (3.40) Everton (2.10) 18.30: (2.75) Liverpool (3.45) Man.City (2.50)Monday22.00: (3.30) Coventry (3.50) Newcastle (2.15)***odds are subject to change***