Manchester City emerged unscathed from a hostile reception at Anfield during their first match since a ruling in a wide-ranging financial misconduct case, but their 3-0 win over Liverpool highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the English Premier League season.
Italian coach Enzo Maresca's team is at the top of the standings after achieving 6 consecutive victories, including remarkable victories away from home over its biggest rival, after it had also defeated its neighbor and traditional rival, Manchester United, last month. However, these points may be worthless unless City succeed in their appeal against the decision of an independent committee that found them guilty of more than a hundred violations directed by the Premier League.
No punishment has been determined yet. But if City's appeal fails, a large number of points, which could lead to relegation or even expulsion from the English Premier League, remains on the table.
There is also the possibility of withdrawing three league titles won by City between 2009 and 2018, the period to which the accusations relate. For a league that constantly boasts of its huge global fan base, the possibility that the appeals procedures will continue for several months, with a question mark remaining over every result achieved by City and what it means for the rest of the English Premier League clubs, constitutes great harm.
Former Manchester United captain and current sports analyst, Gary Neville, told Sky Sports: “This is not good for the English Premier League at the moment.” هذا ما أدركته اليوم». He added: “This is very bad for the league, and it will continue for a few months.”
For his part, Liverpool's Spanish coach Andoni Iraola stressed that "a state of uncertainty is not good for anyone." The defeat left Liverpool 9 points behind City in ninth place. Even if it turns out that Liverpool is not strong enough to compete for the title, the three points it lost on Sunday may be decisive in the struggle for a seat in the Champions League.
The potential penalty against City may also affect the battle to avoid relegation. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports: “This match today, what does it mean for the future?” adding: “This matter must be resolved before the end of the season.” It cannot continue until the end of the season; لأن الجميع يُخدَعون».
Liverpool feels that it is one of those most affected by the revelations of City's violations, after finishing runner-up behind them three times during the past twelve years. City's competitors assert that illegal spending during the period between 2009 and 2018 also established a golden era that is still bearing fruit today.
The Premier League leaders spent a record £460 million ($609 million) during a single transfer window just a few months ago, and reaped the gains immediately. Liverpool seemed helpless offensively in the absence of the injured: Hungarian Dominik Soboslai, Swede Alexander Isak, and Dutchman Cody Khakpo on Sunday, which forced Iraola to give 21-year-old Welshman Luis Comas his first participation in the English Premier League as a spearhead.
On the other hand, Marisca had the luxury of bringing Belgian Jeremy Doku off the bench, early in the second half, in a substitution that changed the course of the match. Moments later, the Belgian winger caused Dutchman Ryan Kravenberg to receive a second yellow card, and Liverpool were unable to regain their balance after that.
Doku contributed to City's first and third goals, which were scored by Norwegian Erling Haaland and Frenchman Rayan Chergui, and between them he himself scored a wonderful goal into the top corner of the goal.
This depth in the squad has been a key factor in City's rise to become the dominant force in English football since the club's takeover in 2008. As the chants, banners, flags and scarves at Anfield demonstrated, City now face accusations that they clawed their way to the top through cheating.
But the repercussions left the rest of the English Premier League clubs also in a state of waiting and stagnation, anticipating the end of a case that began 8 days ago.
English Manchester United heads to the Spanish capital, searching for a morale-boosting win in the Champions League, against Atletico Madrid, on Tuesday, but its trip also represents a harsh reminder of the state of stability that the club has lacked since Scottish Sir Alex Ferguson left its technical management.
Argentine Diego Simeone has been coaching Atletico Madrid since December 2011, that is, more than a year before the retirement of the greatest coach in the history of Manchester United in May 2013 after 26 years full of titles at the head of the technical staff.
Since Ferguson's departure, United have gone through repeated periods of decline under the leadership of seven permanent coaches, along with a number of temporary coaches, and have failed to win any English Premier League title.
On the other hand, Atletico maintained its position among the elite Spanish clubs under Simeone's leadership, winning the Spanish League title in 2014 and 2021 despite competing with the enormous financial and sporting power of Barcelona and Real Madrid.
“Rojiblancos” have also participated in the Champions League in every season since 2013-2014, reaching the final twice, in addition to reaching the semi-finals on two other occasions.
As for United, it has missed the most prominent European club tournaments several times since Ferguson's departure, a remarkable decline for a club that spent a large part of the Scottish coach's era as one of the dominant forces on the continent.
Atletico maintained a clear identity under Simeone's leadership, based on a strict work ethic and uncompromising determination, even if the team transformed from a solid defensive group to a team more comfortable in attacking play.
On the other hand, United was replaced by a number of coaches with different philosophies, while the only constant was the lack of continuity.
Even Atletico's stadium reflects the difference between the two clubs. The modern “Metropolitano” stadium is scheduled to host the Champions League final next June, after it hosted the 2019 final, which was won by Liverpool, United’s rival, while “Old Trafford” was not chosen among the stadiums to host the 2028 European Cup.
Atletico Madrid fans, in turn, have a list of complaints; Especially with the high expectations during Simeone's tenure, but compared to the constant turmoil at Old Trafford, they may be grateful for the continuity that their club has enjoyed.
Atletico started the season well, despite the uncertainty surrounding Argentine striker Julián Alvarez, a former Manchester City player, during the summer. Ultimately, the Argentine striker remained in Madrid despite his attempt to force a move to Barcelona, and began to regain his usual level.
Alvarez hit the post after coming on as a substitute when Atletico snatched a late victory over Deportivo Alaves 2-1 on Saturday, achieving its fourth victory in a row. Simeone said: “I think Julian looked good today.” “He entered with enthusiasm and a desire to perform well and help the team, and he finished the match well.”
Even without Alvarez playing a pivotal role, Simeone's team occupies second place in the Spanish League, and had beaten its neighbor Real Madrid, led by its Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho, before the recent international break.
On the other hand, Manchester United, led by Michael Carrick, struggles to achieve the same level of consistency. It occupies thirteenth place in the English Premier League, and is experiencing its worst start to a domestic season since the 1986-1987 season. The result of the draw against Tottenham (1-1) on Saturday increased the pressure on Carrick and his team.
The “Red Devils” achieved only two victories in 8 matches in various competitions this season. “Reality is reality, and we must accept it,” Carrick said. “We have to move things in a positive direction very quickly, and that is very clear.”
United were criticized for their lack of physical effort this season, including against Tottenham, whose players covered greater distances and ran more quickly and more times, something that could never happen with Simeone, who is known for his strictness. Manchester United had defeated the Azerbaijani team Sabah 4-0 in their opening match in the Champions League, but their visit to the Metropolitano Stadium represents a completely different test against a team experiencing a period of positive momentum and a culture based on solidity built over more than a decade.
The Old Continent's seniors are turning their focus to the second round of the Champions League's unified group stage. Some of them will seek to confirm their strong start, such as Barcelona in Spain and Bayern Munich in Germany, while others will try to restore balance, such as Inter in Italy.
Barcelona, Bayern, and Paris Saint-Germain, the French champions in the last two years, hit hard in the first round with big victories, albeit over relatively modest opponents, as the first defeated Feyenoord of the Netherlands 5-1, the second over Bodo Glimt of Norway 5-0, and the third over Slovan Bratislava of Slovakia 6-1, while Spanish Real Madrid, the record holder in the number of titles (15), achieved a difficult victory over Inter 2-1. Liverpool beat Atletico Madrid with the same score.
Barcelona is hosting Galatasaray of Turkey, and it has a perfect score in various competitions so far, in a distinguished start that may be the best in the history of major European clubs.
The Catalan club won its first nine matches this season for the first time since the 1935-36 season. Despite its failure to keep a clean sheet in the Champions League since the start of last season, it appears to be a difficult competitor for the Turkish giant, which has only succeeded in beating Barcelona once in 10 matches, and that was at home in 1994.
Bayern travels to face Viking in a relatively easy test, in the first match the Norwegian team plays at home in the competition.
Viking lost to Stuttgart 1-3 in the first round, in its first ever appearance in the tournament. Facing a new German competitor, he will rely largely on his strong level, which led him to victory in the last 11 official matches at home.
Viking had defeated Croatian Dinamo Zagreb 3-1 at this stadium, last August, and reached this stage, and also won all 10 of its home matches in the “Norwegian League” this season.
It is a coincidence that Bayern has become the first team to start its journey in the main stage of a European championship by facing two different Norwegian clubs, after it had defeated Bodo Glimt 5-0 last month.
Although Augsburg made the task difficult for them on Saturday, when they came back twice, snatching a 2-2 draw, the six-time European champion is still unbeaten in all competitions this season (6 wins and two draws).
English Arsenal, the runner-up of the last edition, clashes with Lille, second in the French League. The new format for international breaks this season meant that a full month had passed since Arsenal's victory over its Italian host Napoli 1-0 in the first round.
The Gunners have a distinguished record at this stage, as they have suffered only two defeats in their last 31 matches, in the group stage. The positive indicators do not stop there for the team of Spanish coach Mikel Arteta, which won 15 of the last 16 matches it played at home in this stage (one draw), and also prepared for this confrontation with a victory over Leeds 2-1, on Saturday, which was its seventh in a row at home.
On the other hand, Lille finds itself in a difficult situation after losing at home to Spanish Real Betis 2-3 in the first round, but it responded well by winning two of its next three official matches.
Veteran striker Olivier Giroud returns to the Emirates Stadium, hoping to become only the third player in the history of the competition to score for and against Arsenal in the Champions League.
Inter is seeking to quickly compensate, and avoid a fourth consecutive loss in the competition, when it receives Club Brugge of Belgium.
Since its loss to the Royal Club in the first round, the team has responded strongly by scoring 10 goals, during 3 “league” matches without defeat (two wins and a draw), the most notable of which was its victory over Parma 3-0, last Saturday.
His compatriot Naples also aspires to compensate for his loss to Arsenal, when he visits the injured Villarreal in turn, following their loss to its German host, Borussia Dortmund, 2-3.
Manchester United is preparing for a difficult trip to Spain, to face Atletico Madrid.
Atletico achieved its fourth consecutive victory in the "League", when it defeated Alaves 2-1, on Saturday, but it is also looking to collect its first points in Europe, after losing to Liverpool 1-2 at the opening.
On the other hand, Michael Carrick is experiencing the worst start of a “league” season for Manchester United in 40 years, which increases the pressure on the team’s coach, after his players neglected to advance and settled for a 1-1 draw against Tottenham, who completed the match with 10 players, on Saturday.
On Wednesday, all eyes will be on the fiery summit between Manchester City of England and its guest Paris Saint-Germain, while Real Madrid and Liverpool will be heavy guests for Roma of Italy and Lask Linz of Austria.
