Liverpool and Arsenal meet at Anfield on November 1, 2026, under the shadow of Manchester City being found guilty of more than 100 financial rule breaches.
When Liverpool and Arsenal take the field at Anfield today, they do so for their first meeting since a goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium in early January. The competitive landscape, however, has fundamentally shifted. In September, an independent commission found Manchester City guilty of more than 100 breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules between 2009 and 2018. City have appealed the decision and continue to protest their innocence.
How Liverpool and Arsenal Fans Reacted to City’s Tainted Era
According to Gregg Evans, writing for The Athletic, the ruling was met with shock and disappointment among Liverpool supporters. For a club that served as City’s main title challenger during that period, the verdict prompted painful reflections on how history might have unfolded differently. Fans wondered if Steven Gerrard’s slip would have mattered when Liverpool finished a point behind City in the 2013-14 season, or how many more titles Jurgen Klopp might have secured against Pep Guardiola’s side.
🗣️Thierry Henry on the #Arsenal vs Liverpool game this weekend: "I never used to look at the league like that as a player. City didn’t win at Villa this season, and Arsenal did. Arsenal lost at Villa last year. You can also mention that we won at Brighton last year and didn’t…
For Arsenal, the impact takes a different shape. Art de Roche notes that while the initial reaction involved surprise at the sheer duration of the investigation, the realization soon set in regarding how Arsene Wenger’s squads were affected between 2009 and 2018. Although Arsenal were not title rivals like Liverpool were in those seasons under Klopp, that was largely because their best players were poached by City year-on-year during this period. For some supporters, the ruling brought a fresh appreciation for Wenger’s work, while others questioned what north London might have achieved had those players stayed.
Managerial Stances and Dressing Room Outlooks
As clubs across the English top flight digest the verdict, managers have adopted measured tones. Speaking publicly for the first time since the verdict, Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola highlighted the destabilizing nature of the legal battle.
I think uncertainty is not good for anyone, and anyone involved, but the process is ongoing, and we have to be patient like everyone else and see what happens at the end.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who previously served as assistant manager to Guardiola at City from 2015 to 2019, emphasized respecting due process during a press conference following the international break.
Squad Transitions and Anfield Showdown
Liverpool are navigating a transitional period under Iraola, missing three influential figures from last season in Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah, and Ibrahima Konate. Their new-look side is still finding its feet. Arsenal arrive having displayed fluid possession play at times this season, though breaking their winless drought at Anfield—dating back to 2012—remains a formidable test for Arteta’s side.
