Enzo Maresca described the feeling in the Manchester City squad as fantastic as they prepare to face Liverpool in their first game since the club was found guilty of 114 breaches of Premier League financial rules. ThePremier League confirmed in a statement on September 29that, following an independent commission ruling, City had been found guilty of all but one of the charges of financial breaches brought against the club.Among the breaches were the creation of sham contracts to help inflate revenue and reduce costs by more than �900m over nine years covering the 2009-10 season to the 2017-18 campaign.City have appealed the decision, and their future in the top flight hinges on the outcome of that process and the potential sanctions handed down.Marescas men could hardly face a worse first fixture since the Premier League ruling as they travel to what will surely be a hugely emotional Anfield. With City having finished ahead of Jurgen Klopps Liverpool in thrilling title races in 2018-19 and 2021-22, the visitors can expect to face a ferocious atmosphere from a home crowd fuelled by the feeling those titles should have belonged to Liverpool.However, Maresca seems undaunted by that prospect, making it clear spirits are high in the camp amid the crisis the club faces.The feeling is fantastic, to be honest, Maresca said in an interview with the clubs in-house media ahead of the game with Andoni Iraolas Reds.The players are excited for the next two games. But especially they are excited because in this moment we are top of the league. The players are just focused on that.They know what we can control is the football side they are not worried at all about different things.They know their profession and they know that the noise is there, but they dont care too much about the noise. They are just focused in this moment on how we can beatLiverpooland how, together with the fans, we can try to win in Anfield.City are top of the Premier League with a three-point lead over Arsenal, who open the weekends action against Leeds United in Saturdays early kick-off. Topics Enzo Maresca Manchester City F.C. Premier League If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read Arsenal v Leeds: Preview, expected line-ups, stats and where to watch Nicholas McGee 8th October, 2026 Erling Haaland says Manchester City must stick together as Premier League pile-on continues Mitch Fretton 8th October, 2026 Frank Lampard refuses to speculate on Manchester City charges ahead of Premier League return Mitch Fretton 8th October, 2026 Fantasy Premier League 2026/27: Five players to axe ahead of Gameweek 6 Jon Fisher 8th October, 2026 Fantasy Premier League 2026/27: Five players who will explode over the next three gameweeks Blake Hurst 8th October, 2026 Premier League Predictions: Arsenal and Chelsea get back on track, Man United frustrated while City survive Liverpool storm Jon Fisher 8th October, 2026
