Maresca: Man City players ignore the noise ahead of Liverpool trip

Manchester City return to competitive action after three weeks and they do so in a hostile atmosphere: a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool in their first match since the club was found guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial rules. Enzo Maresca, however, insists his players are ignoring the noise surrounding the club and are focused only on collecting three points to stay top of the table.

• Man City travel to Liverpool in their first game since the financial rules verdict.
• Maresca says the squad fully trusts the club and is only focused on football.
• Erling Haaland calls for unity and positivity among players and supporters.
• Pep Guardiola will attend the first home game since the verdict, against PSG on Wednesday.
• City lead the Premier League with five wins from five matches.

Maresca: full trust in the club and total focus on Liverpool

The Italian coach appeared calm in the build-up to the Anfield clash. Back with his players after the international break, Maresca stressed that the club has been clear from the very beginning and that his squad has complete confidence in the leadership.

Personally I am very calm, to be honest. The club has been quite clear. We trust completely the club. We understand the noise but our focus is just on what we can control, and we can only control the football side.

Maresca also highlighted the mood inside the dressing room ahead of a demanding week with two high-stakes fixtures on the horizon. The feeling among the players is fantastic and their excitement is evident, especially given the team's position at the top of the standings.

Haaland calls for Manchester City unity amid the storm

Erling Haaland, one of the most influential voices in the squad, urged everyone connected to the club to stay close during a situation that has shaken the institution. The Norwegian striker emphasised the importance of maintaining a positive attitude, looking ahead and focusing on winning football matches.

We have to stick together. We have to stay with each other and we have to stay positive. No matter what happens in life, we always have to have a smile. We have to look ahead, try to win football games, enjoy the situation and win the game. We have to spread the love to each other.

The forward has witnessed the club's rise from a unique perspective: his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, wore the sky blue shirt in a far less successful era before the 2008 takeover. That family connection makes the Norwegian admit he cares deeply about the club and its supporters.

What the Anfield clash means for the Premier League title race

Manchester City arrive with a perfect record: five wins from five league matches. That flawless start has taken them to the top of the table, a scenario that contrasts sharply with the institutional turmoil triggered by the Premier League verdict and threatens to cast a shadow over the season.

A victory at Anfield would strengthen the team's authority in the competition and serve as a collective response to outside doubts. Liverpool, backed by a passionate home crowd, represent the perfect test of character to see whether the squad can isolate itself completely from off-field matters.

Guardiola to return against PSG in show of support for City

Pep Guardiola is expected to attend Wednesday's Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain, the first home game since the verdict. It would be his first visit to the stadium since leaving the bench last summer after a decade in charge.

His return is being interpreted as a clear gesture of support for the club's hierarchy during one of the most delicate moments of the modern era. The Catalan coach, now an ambassador for the City Football Group, already took to social media last week to say he remains behind the club, its owners, chief executive Ferran Soriano, the players, the staff and the supporters.

Guardiola defended the club's innocence throughout his time in Manchester whenever asked about the charges brought by the Premier League in 2023. He always reiterated his belief in what he was told by those above him.

Mourinho jokes about the length of City's legal battle

José Mourinho, a long-time rival of Guardiola from his days at Real Madrid and Manchester United, responded with irony when asked about the case. The Portuguese joked that neither he nor Guardiola may live long enough to witness the definitive conclusion of the litigation, given the likely succession of appeals.

The former United manager, who finished second behind Guardiola's City in the 2017-18 season, preferred to take the matter with humour and predicted a very distant ending. His words reflect the widespread feeling that the case will drag on for years in the courts.

Frequently asked questions about the Man City case and Liverpool clash