Liverpool’s Red-card Controversy and What Happens if Manchester City Win the Title?

Manchester City sent another statement to their Premier League rivals with a commanding 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield, but the result was overshadowed by a controversial red card and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the club’s financial-rule case.

Enzo Maresca’s side arrived at Anfield under intense scrutiny following an independent commission’s finding that City had committed serious financial-rule breaches. They left with six wins from six league matches, three points clear of Arsenal at the top of the table, and another reminder of their quality on the pitch.

Yet while City’s title ambitions continue to gather momentum, a much bigger question remains: what happens if Manchester City win the Premier League while their financial case is still unresolved?

For the first hour at Anfield, Liverpool and Manchester City were locked in a closely contested battle. Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch had been influential, and the hosts remained firmly in the contest.

That changed in the 62nd minute when Gravenberch received a second yellow card for a challenge on Jérémy Doku.

The decision proved decisive. Erling Haaland opened the scoring shortly afterwards, Doku doubled City's advantage with a superb finish, and Rayan Cherki added a third to complete a 3-0 victory.

However, the dismissal quickly became the major talking point.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher described the decision to book Gravenberch for his first challenge as a “shocking decision”, arguing that the initial caution was particularly harsh.

Gary Neville also questioned the first booking, while acknowledging that Gravenberch had put himself in a difficult position by challenging Doku while already on a yellow card.

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola was similarly unhappy, arguing that his midfielder did not deserve to receive two yellow cards.

There is a legitimate debate over both incidents. The first booking appeared harsh to several pundits, while the second challenge presented the referee with a decision over whether it warranted a caution.

But it would be equally wrong to dismiss City's performance entirely. Before the sending-off, the match was finely balanced. Afterwards, City ruthlessly exploited the extra space, scoring three times and demonstrating the attacking quality that has made them such a formidable opponent.

The red card changed the conditions of the contest, but City still had to take advantage and they did.

Six victories from six matches put City in a commanding early position, with their latest win also sending a message to the teams hoping to challenge them for the championship.

Their attacking options, ability to control matches and capacity to punish opponents make them a genuine contender once again.

The bigger question is whether their rivals can keep pace over a full season.

Arsenal remain close behind, while Liverpool will need to recover quickly from their first league defeat of the campaign. With the season still in its early stages, however, there is plenty of football left to play.

City's immediate priority will be maintaining their form and building a lead that could become crucial later in the campaign.

But their position at the top of the table comes with an unusual complication: their performances on the pitch are unfolding alongside one of the most significant disciplinary cases in Premier League history.

Manchester City's financial case took a dramatic turn after an independent commission found the club guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial rules covering the period from 2009-10 to 2017-18.

The findings included the use of commercial arrangements that the commission considered misleading, the submission of inaccurate financial information and failures to cooperate with the league's investigation.

City deny wrongdoing and have appealed the ruling. The appeal process remains ongoing, meaning the final outcome and any punishment have not yet been settled.

The potential consequences are significant. Under the Premier League's disciplinary framework, possible sanctions can include a fine, points deductions and other sporting penalties, potentially including expulsion from the competition. The question of whether historic titles could be affected has also been raised.

However, there is an important distinction between what is legally possible and what will actually happen.

If City win the 2026-27 Premier League title, that achievement would not automatically be erased simply because the club has been found guilty in a separate financial case.

The club can continue competing while the appeal proceeds. Whether any sanctions affect the current season, previous seasons or the club's future would depend on the final decisions and the specific terms of any punishment.

The underlying charges cover historical seasons, so the question of retrospective consequences for titles won during the period under investigation is different from whether City could be punished in the current campaign.

There is no confirmed decision to strip City of any title, and there is no basis to assume that winning this season's championship would automatically result in it being taken away.

The timing is also important. If a punishment were imposed before the end of the season, a points deduction could potentially alter the standings. If the process takes longer, City could finish the campaign as champions before any final sporting sanctions are determined.

That uncertainty is one of the reasons the case has attracted so much attention across English football.

The possible consequences extend beyond Manchester City. If the club ultimately receives a sporting punishment, rival teams could be affected through changes to league standings, European qualification or, depending on the eventual ruling, historic results and titles.

However, there is no guarantee that any rival club would be awarded a championship retrospectively. Such an outcome would depend on the precise sanctions imposed and the governing bodies' decisions.

For now, Arsenal, Liverpool and the rest of City's competitors must focus on their own results rather than waiting for the case to be resolved.

City's appeal also means the findings are still being challenged, and the final outcome remains uncertain.

Manchester City's victory at Anfield reinforced their credentials as title contenders, but it did little to settle the questions surrounding their future.

The Gravenberch dismissal will continue to generate debate over refereeing standards, particularly because the match was so closely contested before the red card.

More significantly, City's start to the season has placed them in a position where they could be chasing another Premier League championship while their financial case remains unresolved.

They may ultimately win the title and retain it without any retrospective change. Alternatively, the legal process could result in sanctions with consequences for the club and the wider competition.

Neither outcome should be treated as inevitable at this stage.

For now, City are top of the table, their rivals are chasing them, and the football world is waiting to see how one of the biggest disciplinary cases in the Premier League's history will conclude.

Manchester City can control their results on the pitch. They cannot yet control what happens next off it.