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![\"Norway's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/6ac7522c863063381cce12adjpeg.jpg\")
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNorway’s Erling Haaland claps his hands during warmup before the Nations League soccer match between Portugal and Norway in Porto, Portugal, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo\/Luis Vieira)<\/p>\n
And it just had to be at Anfield.<\/p>\n
A trip to Liverpool has long been considered the toughest, most fearsome away game of the season by City. It just got even tougher, with Haaland, Rayan Cherki and the rest likely entering a cauldron of hate and anger this weekend.<\/p>\n
Liverpool might consider itself the team which suffered most from the slew of financial misdemeanors carried out by City, according to the findings of an independent investigatory panel, between 2009-18 \u2014 the period when City\u2019s Abu Dhabi ownership was assembling a squad that would later dominate English soccer. Those findings are the subject of an appeal by City, which continues to assert its innocence.<\/p>\n
Under former coach J\u00fcrgen Klopp, Liverpool won the Premier League in 2020 but the team also finished second to Pep Guardiola\u2019s City by one point in the 2018-19 and 2021-22 seasons following memorable title races that raised the bar in terms of points earned and the standard of football played.<\/p>\n
What helped City to reach that level was nearly a decade of rule-breaking, the independent panel has found.<\/p>\n
So, expect Liverpool fans to be seething inside and outside of Anfield. They\u2019ll believe they are owed some titles.<\/p>\n
Aside from Phil Foden, who is suspended for the match, no current member of City\u2019s squad even played for the club from 2009-18. Enzo Maresca took over as City manager only in June.<\/p>\n
Still, they will be the ones bearing the brunt of the widespread discontent from fan bases up and down the country in the coming months.<\/p>\n
What will be intriguing is who from City\u2019s ownership or board attends the Liverpool game. How much will the matter weigh on the players under the most intense pressure? And what will be the reaction of City\u2019s match-going supporters, with the future of their club so uncertain \u2014 the potential sanctions include a huge points deduction, even expulsion from the Premier League \u2014 and the violations of its ownership clear for all to see in the commission\u2019s verdict?<\/p>\n
\n City leads the league on a maximum 15 points from five games \u2014 all of which were played when the club was being accused of those financial breaches.<\/p>\n
Now the guilty verdict has arrived, it\u2019s time to see the impact on the team \u2014 and the reaction of its rivals.<\/p>\n
Key matchups<\/p>\n
The first game back after an extended three-week break for internationals is Arsenal, the defending champion, at home to Leeds on Saturday lunchtime.<\/p>\n
Manchester United hosts Tottenham \u2014 in last place on two points \u2014 in one of five other games on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Players to watch<\/p>\n
The international window was marked by a raft of injuries to high-profile Premier League players. Now to see how serious they are.<\/p>\n
\n Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo returned to Liverpool for assessment of injuries picked up playing for Sweden and the Netherlands, respectively, and are currently doubts for the Liverpool-City game. So might be Haaland, who asked to be substituted midway through the second half of Norway\u2019s final Nations League game, but that might have been because of fatigue.<\/p>\n
Kai Havertz, who has been the starting striker for Arsenal this season, was injured in the first of four games played by Germany \u2014 though that was two weeks ago now.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\tThe Warm-Up<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Jets Game Days<\/p>\n
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.<\/p>\n