Tension, ‘cheat’ banners and inflatable bananas: Manchester City’s welcome to Anfield

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Fans lined the streets of Anfield in preparation for the arrival of the Manchester City team bus, with pyrotechnics and pure vitriol adding to the tense pre-match atmosphere. Since the City takeover in 2008, Liverpool have finished second to their rivals on three occasions, although only one of those falls within the parameters of the investigation into City’s financial breaches of Premier League rules.

Liverpool supporters are aggrieved, feeling they would have won more trophies had City not circumnavigated the rules to help sign elite players.Liverpool were punished in 2018 after supporters launched missiles at the team bus as the City players were driven to Anfield for a Champions League clash. Many have witnessed City drop to the third tier and win the Champions League, so have experienced both ends of the spectrum already.Liverpool supporters lined the streets outside Anfield waiting to greet the Manchester City team coach.

Photograph: Adam Vaughan/EPAThe police flew a drone above the route the City bus planned to take into the ground, while officers walked up and down filming those in attendance as the decibels and anger grew.skip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotionEvery vehicle was treated with suspicion, as theories of subterfuge from City, not for the first time, were discussed. The police presence grew closer to the anticipated arrival time on the bus.Around an hour before kick-off, after City’s coach was whisked up to the ground with its police motorcade, the visiting supporters were given their own escort across Stanley Park.