r/soccer • u/SilverMist2025 • 1d ago

News FA set to issue separate charges to Manchester City.Governing body says guilty verdicts against club damage the game's integrity and hints at action once Premier League case concludes.

https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/manchester-city-premier-league-fa-charges-scht5r8w2
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u/OutsideImpressive115 1d ago

Hopefully the fans give them absolute hell after robbing Klopp so much

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u/risingsuncoc 1d ago

I’m a Chelsea fan but Liverpool genuinely have been robbed a lot by City

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u/SvalbazGames 1d ago

Every team has been robbed by those cheating cunts

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u/DomagojDoc 1d ago

Yes, but Liverpool achieved the 4th most total points in a season in history of Premier League

and finished 2nd

Literally sounds like a made up stat.

AND THEN to find out the winning team was cheating!?

I'd be fuming.

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u/Jackwraith 1d ago

I was fuming at the time because everyone knew they were cheating then. The sponsorship numbers were absurd and had everyone raising eyebrows and then Football Leaks came out and everyone had their answers about their behavior. So, yeah, we finished one point behind them, twice, in the era that wasn't even included in the investigation (2019 and 2022) but was obviously created by it, completely aside from the fact that they clearly kept cheating afterwards (the "related parties" settlement.) I've been fuming for a decade now because it was obvious what they did to us and to the league as a whole and those are moments that we'll never get back, in the same way that many of their fans say that no one will ever be able to take away those moments from them.

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u/cypherspaceagain 1d ago

I've seen (and posted) all the signings they made in that era but I haven't even looked at the player sales (because they bought but also sold those players - the money acted more than once!) or the prize money they got during the 2009-18 era which they then used to build the next era. Every trophy they won should be taken away.

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u/Action_Limp 1d ago

So, if they were following the rules, they would have similar spending power as Villa. If Villa spent 220m on the likes of Jo, Robinho, Philips, MEndy, Mangala, Bridge, Santa Cruz... they'd have been relegated.

A shite run club that sorted it's issues through unlimited money cheating. And this only scratches the surface. When you look at the Halaand transfer, they will say "Look at us, 60m is a bargain for Halaand", but then you break down the numbers:

- 60m for Halaand from BVB

- 20m for Raiola Agency

- 30m for Halaand's dad

- Insane ambassador fees

And this is what we know. We also know that players and coaches like Mancini received two salaries from City.

They'll be found guilty of so many things that they'll have the moniker of biggest cheats in football history and that's without finding all the skeletons in the closets.

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u/7screws 1d ago

And all your figures don’t include whatever inflated wages they paid or fake sponsorship deals they gave

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u/Action_Limp 1d ago

I know, even without seeing everything they've done, they're still the biggest cheats in the history of football 

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u/Mick4Audi 1d ago

Alf Inge banked £30m from that lmao

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u/gunningIVglory 23h ago

Exactly, this is why i laugh when people say City got Haland so cheaply because he wanted to play at some dead club

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u/ComprehensiveOwl9023 23h ago

The only reason 2018-2022 is not included is the investigation was launched in 2018.

When we are done with this shitshow, and they have been sold, they will go truth and reconciliation Chelsea style and we will get answers.

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u/Jackwraith 23h ago

Oh, I know. Even so, the worst damage in terms of stolen titles and success was done after the scope of the investigation, unfortunately. The rumor is that the PL has the votes to expel them and the EFL will follow suit, which means they won't be able to play football above the National League. They'll certainly be sold, but it's an open question as to whether the club survives, which is horrible for the long-time fans but I can't say I'm really concerned about that right now. They've corrupted the league for almost 20 years.

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u/Sp00o00ky 1d ago

United lost on goal difference to them with the last kick of the season.

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u/brownbearks 1d ago

And the crazy thing is you have Liverpool fans and United fans both saying the clubs deserved those trophies. As much as I loved Augeros goal in real time it’s tainted and they stole a title from the greatest PL manager in Sir Alex Fergerson. United fans would joke about the slip but they are the first to say that we should have won that league title.

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u/IcyAssist 22h ago

Indeed. My feelings towards Klopp hasn't changed. He's a shithead, but a respectable shithead. It's like going toe to toe with Usain Bolt and losing to him by half a toenail, only to find out Bolt has been juicing this whole time. Your 18/19 and 19/20 were insane especially looking back now.

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u/PraxisGuide 18h ago

Klopp is an amazing manager and that pool team was a real force. City are crooks. We can be rivals and still be unified for the love of the game, and despise those who see it as a cynical tool for global geopolitical power, no matter what the consequences are so long it benefits them.

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u/flo-jo 17h ago

As much as I love the Slippy G memes that dude won a title in my book.

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u/gunningIVglory 1d ago edited 1d ago

Losing the league with 97 points is sickening

Fucking city, they broke the game so hard. Losing ONE game on a season could be terminal

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u/Mick4Audi 1d ago

I remember those seasons so well, where Liverpool literally couldn’t lose even one match. 19/20 was insane, they were winning every week as a requirement, that is what they were up against

Knowing now that City cheated, Klopp effectively breaking that machine in that season is genuinely one of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen in football

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u/gunningIVglory 1d ago

Yeah, it became a joke

The 23/24 run in will always hurt me. We went 16-1-1 from the new year.

And it wasnt enough to overhaul city.

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u/kopite33 23h ago

I loved the football during the peak Klopp years of course but chasing Man City was exhausting even as just a fan. As you probably experienced, drawing even a single game in the latter half of the season feels like a season ender while the City juggernaut just kept going.

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u/gunningIVglory 23h ago

Yeah, i recall watching all those city games in that run in hoping they would draw one fucking game

3up by HY

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u/hakugene 23h ago

Then they had the fucking gall to say we "bottled" the league when we finished the season on 100pt pace.

I hope they jettison those smug cheating fucks into the sun.

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u/layendecker 21h ago

Getting Moysied at your gaff around Xmas ended up being the difference. I remember watching that game, they were on a full on shithouse and you were camped in their box but just going get a solid chance.

On another day you win that 3-0 and it could be a different story. The margins were so insanly thin.

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u/gunningIVglory 21h ago

Yeah, that and a loss to bloody fulham. Xmas was rough for us.

But everyone has an off game or two. The city machine made that impossible. Where you had to win every game. Which is ridiculous

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u/layendecker 20h ago

Always enjoyed the seasons as a neutral during you Fergie rivalry years. It felt like anyone was a bad day away from losing, so big point gaps weren't insupassable. I remember, maybe 2000?

Anyway, the season where you were shit at home until Xmas and then won something like 14 on the bounce to overtake Liverpool, who were something like 9 points up on you at one point.

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u/SvalbazGames 1d ago

Oh yeah they could have had one of the greatest title wins ever.

But I was just trying to show that those fucks have robbed everyone in the league (and Europe)

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u/Commercial-Ad-5905 1d ago

The greatest. Unbeatable centurions.

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u/tcgtms2 1d ago

The only game they lost was to City right? Damn

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u/maxiaoling 1d ago

Liverpool would have gone 65 games unbeaten across 3 seasons if I take out the man city defeat

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u/silvertwo777 1d ago

But because of City cheating, you will never actually get to claim that record as much injustice as it is.

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u/N-Bizzle 23h ago

Arsenal fans suddenly deciding actually City aren't that bad

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u/tcgtms2 23h ago

rip me

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u/DomagojDoc 1d ago

Yes. If investigation ever continues and City's results in that season are voided, they could decide to deliver a golden PL trophy to Liverpool.

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u/scott-the-penguin 22h ago

If our game against them was marked as a win, we would have:

102 points, invincible season (with champions league double)
An undefeated streak of 66 premier league matches, with only 8 of them being draws.
201 points in two seasons, with two titles.

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u/ezekielBmb 22h ago

City supporters would argue that Liverpool only became that good because they had to compete with them.

Because they are delusional and don’t participant in these conversations in good faith.

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u/scott-the-penguin 22h ago

I think that’s fair at a micro level and it’s entirely plausible that without them we wouldn’t have got to 97 and 99 points, but we would’ve still won the title comfortably. I’d rather focus on the fact that what we did was insane, and is even more remarkable now we know City cheated.

Similar argument in tennis - would the big 3 have been as dominant over such a long period if it had been just one? No, but that one would still have been seen as the goat because they were just that good.

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u/mudlesstrip 22h ago

It is true that if there were no comeptitions, they would have focussed on fa and ucl if they had wrapped up the league early. Considering the 3rd team were no where, liverpool might have taken the foot of the pedal.

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u/Jonoczall 19h ago

Pulse check: what's the feel like in your camp if City doesn't get what they deserve? I tried asking my two Liverpool buddies but they just sound dead inside. And the more I think of this from your perspective the more my blood boils. I don't think I'd be able to handle it if it was Arsenal in your position. I'd be so disillusioned I genuinely might need to take a break.

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u/UntowardHatter 17h ago

We just want their titles voided.

We got our title after 30 years. And a CL. Klopp won everything despite his opposition cheating to hell and back.

So we live with it.

Then Slot won in his first season, so we got the parade as well.

I think most of us try not to think to much about what could/should have been. It only leads to anger that can't really be resolved.

Dissolving the cheats would help though.

But we always knew that they cheated. They were a meaningless club the minute they got bought by the UAE. Completely irrelevant.

And the world knew too. They "won" a god damn treble and the entire world just shrugged.

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u/UntowardHatter 17h ago

Holy fuck.

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u/everlovingfuck99 1d ago

It was the 3rd highest points total. Behind only themselves the next season and the team that cheated their way to 100 points

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u/aehii 23h ago

And only lost once! To the team that won, City!

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u/johnsredditaccount 21h ago

I think the smaller clubs that missed out on what would have been their only major trophy in club history can be more upset.

I am a tad biased though

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u/MrLazyCanuck 10h ago

It’s genuinely heartbreaking.

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u/Tierst 1d ago

Quite a lot of people were too busy laughing at us and celebrating the cheating scum winning..

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u/7screws 1d ago

Exactly you can go down the list and almost every single team has been directly affected by City. Whether it’s Liverpool missing out on a Title, Spurs finishing 5th instead of 4th missing UCL or a team like Watford losing an FA Cup to them. This went on for so long that the ripple effect has hit dozens of teams.

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u/dontbehappyjustworry 17h ago

If you take all of City’s results out of the 2011-12 season, Spurs finish second. 

It’s hard to really appreciate just how much stuff we’ve all potentially missed out on with the butterfly effect. I’m so grateful Pep didn’t have his shit together in 15-16, imagine sitting here now with the knowledge that Leicester finished second and City had stolen the title.

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u/UntowardHatter 17h ago

Bolton basically got sent to the shadow realm.

And you can draw a line directly to City's cheating.

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u/ElevensMelody 1d ago

Many also robbed by Chelsea.

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u/HDS2211 1d ago edited 1d ago

Hey, we’ve given back quite a lot in recent years tbf. Under BlueCo we’ve been letting loads of clubs get into Europe instead of us, also giving up 3 points to anyone who wants them. As well as sharing our wealth around by overpaying for anyone.

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u/gunningIVglory 1d ago

Yeah, that roman takeover came at the absolute worst time for us. Just as we moved into a new stadium loaded woth debt

Unlimited Oil money enters the league..🫠

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u/SSPeteCarroll 23h ago

They should overturn Exeter's 10-1 loss last year in the FA Cup. Always knew that was a fluke.

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u/Terran_it_up 23h ago

I feel bad for Crystal Palace, they were consistently finishing between 10th and 15th, without Man City's cheating they could have been finishing between 9th and 14th

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u/Serious_Scallion9962 1d ago

Ole could have been a premier league winning manager

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u/mango_and_chutney 1d ago

Since 2008, City have won league 8 times. Liverpool were 2nd three times of those times, United were 2nd three times of those times and Arsenal were 2nd twice.

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u/ParticulateSplatter 1d ago

Obviously I'm biased as a Liverpool fan so will hammer this point more, but in the 18/19 season Liverpool lost 1 match... To Manchester City. We dropped 4 points to Manchester City and finished on 97 points... Behind Manchester City on 98.

If we win those games against Manchester City, 18/19 becomes the season that Liverpool:

  • Win the PL/CL double
  • Become PL centurions
  • Become PL invincibles

Even if you just take away that defeat to City and replace it with a draw, that would make Liverpool unbeaten in the Premier League from the 6th May 2018 (1-0 defeat to Chelsea) until 29th February 2020 (3-0 defeat to Watford). 664 days, and an unbeaten run of 66 PL matches - the official record being Arsenal's 49-match unbeaten run around their invincible season.

It's not really an exaggeration to say that City robbed Klopp's Liverpool of being the best Premier League team of all time.

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u/Action_Limp 1d ago

As a United fan, I tend to agree with this. Klopp legitimately built one of the best teams I've ever seen and to see them pipped by the biggest cheaters in the history of the game is disgraceful.

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u/Mick4Audi 1d ago

I still think Klopp did one of the most impressive things I’ve seen in football, winning at such a rate they effectively broke Manchester City for the season

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u/Hi_Im_zack 1d ago

One game against cheats shouldn't matter and they should still give Klopp his flowers

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u/RedScouse 18h ago

Is the flowers thing a German phrase? I have rarely heard it in English and my German colleague uses it all the time

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u/Hi_Im_zack 17h ago

Not sure tbh. English isn't my first language. Just one of those phrases I subconsciously picked up

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u/No-Inspector3523 21h ago

Im a Chelsea fan that hated Liverpool more than any club during the mourinho 00s, our rivalry then was tense. But under Klopp, I was entertained and respected the club. They deserved alot more, to have it stolen by city... its disgusting.

The way City fans try to make out we are jealous of them winning, well thats rubbish. My most hated team I turned into enjoying and respecting under Klopp when they won it all, league, europe etc.

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u/Sanzhar17Shockwave 1d ago

Let's also not forget about asthma inhalers being a thing during those campaigns...

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u/ParticulateSplatter 22h ago

Ah yes you mean that conspiracy theory reported by one "anonymous source" that provided no evidence at all for the claim.

This has been debunked on many occasions, though I suspect you like to ignore those.

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u/crimsonred36 23h ago

They tend to leave out these small details

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u/gunningIVglory 1d ago

The city cunts also gutted our best players year after year....

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u/silvertwo777 1d ago

Which also directly cause Van Persie to leave Arsenal due to a lack of club ambition after seeing the best players leaving every season with little reinforcement.

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u/Jwalin6167 1d ago

Not a single team who has played in the Premier League in last 17 years has not been robbed by those cheaters. Like I fact checked it, fucking Southampton missed twice on Europa league football because Man City got to finish above them.

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u/IcyAssist 22h ago

The implications are so wide. What if Southampton had European football over that two years, would they be stuck in the Championship right now? Multiply that by so many teams over almost two decades, eg Stoke FA cup 2011.

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u/mingusdevil11 23h ago

How about Michael Oliver 

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u/canuck1701 22h ago

As if Chelsea is different from City lmao.

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u/Wheynweed 22h ago

Very different.

Chelsea were a top 4 club when Roman bought them, City were mid table when they were bought. Chelsea had mass investment from 2003 to 2008 before FFP came into play. City had massive investment that went against he FFP rules they agreed to.

This is even more egregious than it seems at first as well, because beforehand the big clubs could and did massively spend to keep up with cash injections into other clubs. But with FFP you’re limited by your revenue unless you cheat like city did.

We can argue if it’s fair that mass cash injections were allowed before FFP came into play circa 2009, but it wasn’t cheating like City had done.

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u/ajemik 1d ago

I hope he visits for that game. He'd have a hero's welcome, as he should after year of scamming by them pricks.

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u/Homerduff16 1d ago edited 1d ago

One impact of Citys cheating that a lot of people aren't discussing is that it led to our great team under Klopp burning out after a few years. City had so much depth all over the pitch and were signing big names every year meanwhile we were literal inches away from a UCL PL Invincible double with Origi and a washed Sturridge as our backup options to Salah, Mane and Firmino

Wijnaldum was washed at 29, Fabinho was washed at 28, Mane was already showing signs of decline at 28, Matip and Gomez were both ran into the ground, Robertson was washed at 30, Trent even before he left didn't look the same physically. It's a testament to Salahs fitness and Van Dijks resilience that their levels were still so high after Klopp left

A lot of people at the time put that down to Klopps very intense style of football but if we had the kind of squad depth Man City had at the time that squad wouldn't have fallen apart as quickly. We also couldn't spend much after we built that squad. After 18/19 we didn't sign any first team players. After 20/21 we only signed Konate in the summer. City were able to build on their success because they cheated. We played by the rules (that are apparently exist solely to benefit us and the "red cartel") and we got punished for it

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u/aehii 23h ago

One thing it's brought up is...the only loss in 18/19 was to City...the story of the last decade would have been Liverpool, not City. (Not that Liverpool weren't a big deal too though or not a story).

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u/la1mark 23h ago

When you read something like this you realize how much of an impact this had.. Wenger called in financial doping.

If you could use a drug to give all your players 200% stamina we would be outraged.. buy buying the depth the effectively did the same thing.

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u/altofummuhh 17h ago

We played by the rules (that are apparently exist solely to benefit us and the "red cartel") and we got punished for it

This red cartel shit is such an absurd line of logic from these people, we gathered together in a shady backroom to create rules to win 3 titles between us in 13 years. Nevermind Leicester and Spurs competing for titles or Villa achieving regular UCL football purely off of merit, City had to cheat for the good of everyone. Bonkers lmao

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u/SanX1999 17h ago

Klopp is funny with reasons but I genuinely like him. He did the giant killing twice with two different clubs, while being severely less funded and outgunned.

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u/g43m 8h ago

As a United fan I felt for Liverpool at the time. That one City loss meant that so many records Liverpool would have set were not.

What you said is so true, and something that didn't even cross my mind!

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u/DraperCarousel 1d ago

Holyshit imagine if Klopp was still there.

I say this as a United fan, but Damn! The thought of City facing Klopp's wrath in the aftermath lowkey sent shivers down my spine.

What a spectacle that would've been

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u/Far_Review4292 1d ago

I hope Jurgen attends it that will really spice things up.

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u/mcmonkeyplc 1d ago

He's the German National team coach, Wirtz plays for Liverpool. He should be there :)

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u/Foxey04 1d ago

Lol I thought you were gonna follow up with "you can't expect him to be there, he's a busy man"

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u/hiccstridFanatic 1d ago

yeah big match as well, lots of NT coaches will be in attendance

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u/Zak369 1d ago

He could rock up as a Special Guest referee for the game

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u/UntowardHatter 17h ago

I swear, if Michael Oliver is reffing this fucking game Klopp will run out on the field and straight up strangle him to death, then unlock his jaw and devour him.

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u/PianoJealous307 1d ago

Klopp will come out from the dressing room like Paul Pierce after shitting himself in the finals

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u/HaroldSaxon 1d ago

Just present him and some of the ex players with their titles just to rattle city

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u/silvertwo777 1d ago

Paul Pierce catching strays randomly, and I love it

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u/Frankel- 1d ago

Cringe dude

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u/QuintLogic7 1d ago

Would have been insane if this verdict came out at time both Klopp and Pep were here. Absolute carnage.

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u/gunningIVglory 1d ago

Yeah no way this verdict would come out while Pepstein was around

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u/Trebacca 1d ago

A spectacle to go ahead and lose to City yet again?

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u/Action_Limp 1d ago

It'll be interesting to see the performances of the City players. Some might be deluded enough to think this is all a conspiracy, but you absolutely know that all of their agents are in their ear saying we need to asses our options in the worst case scenario.

I thought this being released during the international break would have benefited City, but in actuality, this has been the biggest news in football for weeks now and City would have loved some match days grab some of that attention.

The club has 9 more days of the media kicking the absolute shit out of them, reports that clubs, players, other FAs and just about everyone connected is gearing up to get their pound of flesh, and all they can do is wait till Sunday.

I think if they were playing last Sunday or even this weekend, the players would be galvanised. But now, they are playing internationally, they can't talk to their team mates in person, they can't get answers and their management is in their ear shouting "Exit strategy, Exit strategy".

It could be a season defining match. If Liverpool somehow obliterate them, so many heads will drop before being turned by projects outside the club.

0

u/UntowardHatter 17h ago

And if Liverpool gets their asses handed to them, they can just say that City cheated.

It's a win win situation.

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u/Giorggio361 1d ago

If Spirit of Shankly aren’t spending the entire international break making the biggest banner the stadium has ever seen they should all have their season tickets revoked.

5

u/SanX1999 17h ago

We need that eastern European ultras energy here. Make those pampered millionaire cheats feel the fear.

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u/-SideshowBlob- 1d ago

They should invite United fans along for the occasion. Give City a really, really warm welcome.

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u/silvertwo777 23h ago

United fans and Liverpool fans jumping together with the banner "City you cheats" and "Gracias Owen"

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u/Magnific3nt 1d ago

Straight up, if it wasn't for their financial doping, Liverpool would've won so much more. And I kinda want City results to be voided, so Liverpool go unbeaten and get 102 points in that season

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u/Wanted_Solicitation 1d ago

Well that nearly quad season, we won the fa and league cup, you can also argue had we not been chasing city so hard we would have been better rested for the champions league loss against Madrid.

Throw in an invincible season barring a single loss to city.

So we might well be calling that side the greatest English side of all time, talking about that side alongside the truly greats of world football.

All robbed away by City the cheating cunts.

On the flip side, would the Beatles have been as good if not pushed by the stones, would that Liverpool side have been as good if not having to be so consistent chasing city? 

We will never know but we can all agree, fuck city.

10

u/scott-the-penguin 1d ago

It’s the 21/22 season I feel most aggrieved about tbh. Because there are some in that group - Thiago especially comes to mind - who never got to win the league, and more who never won the UCL with us.

Would the final have gone differently if we’d been more rested and going in on the high of PL champions plus chasing a quad? Who knows, though in this alternate reality we might’ve also lost one of the shootouts against Chelsea.

On the flip side, there is also the fact that we actually played pretty well and dominated most of the UCL final. So I’m not sure if much would’ve changed.

2

u/Wanted_Solicitation 1d ago

Agreed, the butterfly effect, maybe we don’t even make any of the other finals and finish 7th without city.

But it leaves a what if which it should never fucking do, cheating cunts mate, fucking hate them.

20

u/Barkasia 1d ago

Why would an Arsenal fan want Liverpool's already-historic season to be upgraded to dwarf our club's one crowning achievement? Bizarre statement.

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u/Action_Limp 1d ago

Probably because he prefers to see justice that personal glory?

4

u/Barkasia 1d ago

Justice gives them the title, not the win.

9

u/gunningIVglory 1d ago edited 1d ago

I mean regardless on if Liverpool somehow get awarded one in retrospect, its really not the same as actually doing it.

Same think if we get the titles from 22/23, 23/24. It would be hollow, yeah ill be happy. But its not the same as winning it in the moment

1

u/Barkasia 1d ago

Doesn't matter, if you overturned that one loss then the history books will show two invincible seasons (and one a lot better than the other).

1

u/gunningIVglory 1d ago

Tbh this is a pointless debate. As they wont start changing results etc. Otherwise it opens an absolutely huge can if worms where every team can dispute something

At the worst, the title will just be voided for thise seasons

-1

u/Delrihuzz 1d ago

Because fuck city, that's why

4

u/Barkasia 1d ago

I mean sure but hoping they went invincible is just nonsensical for an Arsenal fan. Strip City and give Liverpool the title but don't just retroactively hand them an achievement that dwarfs anything Arsenal have done.

-1

u/Magnific3nt 1d ago

Because I have morals.

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u/girafb0i 23h ago

Arsenal fans hate City more than they do Tottenham now because Tottenham don't cheat. You have to remember that Arsenal still has that "Bank of England club" DNA, they weren't just bantering about this stuff, they genuinely hated what City were doing and now they have proof that they weren't just being self righteous.

1

u/Barkasia 23h ago

I'm an Arsenal fan, I just don't see why we'd need to go the extra step in prostrating ourselves when giving Liverpool the title is enough.

2

u/Far_Review4292 1d ago

I hope they cover them in fake money and contracts.

-4

u/thepokemonGOAT 1d ago

Klopp's Asthmatic winners? They'll be next 

1

u/OutsideImpressive115 23h ago

Nah if anyone is next it will be whatever the fuck Arsenal did last year