Update on Liverpool's fight for huge compensation in Man City's 115 charges case after FSG file paperwork
Today at 01:15 PM
Liverpool are eight points now clear of Man City in the Premier League and, ahead of the pair’s first meeting of the season on Sunday, the rivalry between the two clubs is spilling over behind the scenes.
In the last two seasons, Manchester City’s main rivals for the title have been Arsenal. But with Arne Slot’s Liverpool even further ahead of the Gunners, they are the team to beat this season.
Pep Guardiola’s side’s abysmal form won’t last forever and, at some point, a title race as opposed to a canter to the finish line for Liverpool will surely break out.
| Position | Team | PlayedMP | WonW | DrawnD | LostL | ForGF | AgainstGA | DiffGD | PointsPts |
| 1 | LiverpoolLiverpool | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 8 | 16 | 31 |
| 2 | Man CityManchester City | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 23 |
| 3 | ChelseaChelsea | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 22 |
| 4 | ArsenalArsenal | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 12 | 9 | 22 |
| 5 | BrightonBrighton | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 16 | 5 | 22 |
| 6 | TottenhamTottenham | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 27 | 13 | 14 | 19 |
If it does, it will take place against the backdrop of Man City’s trial over over ‘115’ instances of alleged financial misconduct currently taking place at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London.
‘115’ is in inverted commas because the true number of charges – which City have always denied in the strongest possible terms and claim there is “irrefutable evidence” in support of their position – is 130.
Those charges, which the Premier League misreported in their initial press release leading to ‘115’ number sticking in the press and among fans, vary in substance but are all incredibly serious in nature.
From multiple alleged Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) breaches to claims they made off-the-books payments to Roberto Mancini and Yaya Touré, a guilty verdict would change the course of City history.
Contrary to what some fans have suggested, the case is far from a foregone conclusion and there are convincing arguments from legal experts on both sides.
But in the even that City are found guilty, it would leave them open to claims that their achievements in the almost decade long timeframe of the alleged offences were obtained illegitimately.
Although it was before the era when Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool became their main title rivals, they Merseyside club did finish as runners-up to City in 2013-14.
This is why Liverpool and their owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) have reserved the right to seek compensation if the hearing and appeals process goes the Premier League’s way.
And on that front, there have been fresh developments direct from Premier League HQ this week.
Premier League confident they will dodge payout over Man City’s 115 charges
FSG aren’t aren’t the only ownership regime to have reserved the right to seek compensation from Man City.
Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United have did the same ahead of the statute of limitations deadline that would have barred them from doing so had they not filed the paperwork.
However, FootBiz are now reporting that the Premier League themselves are confident that they will avoid payouts to individual clubs and broadcasters if it is proven that the offences took place on their watch.
It is instead understood that Liverpool and their peers will hold City solely liable if they are found guilty.
Compensation could run into the hundreds of millions of pounds, with clubs potentially able to seek damages on the basis of lost prize money and commercial income among other factors.
The only comparable case to date is the compensation claim filed against Everton by several clubs who were relegated in the period when they were found to have breached PSR.
It is not entirely clear what happened to that initiative, although reports suggest that Burnley are the only club to have not dropped the claim.
The little known link between Liverpool’s FSG and Man City’s Sheikh Mansour
Football finance is a small world.
After all, there are only so many groups or individuals who can afford to buy a Premier League club, especially one of the stature of Liverpool or Man City.
Enterprise values are soaring and, whenever a club is available to buy, the same private equity or sovereign wealth fund-linked groups crop up again and again.
For instance, RedBird Capital, the private equity titans who invested £500m for a 10 per cent equity stake in FSG in 2021, have a direct partnership with Sheikh Mansour, the de-facto owner of Man City.
Three years ago, RedBird linked up with International Media Investments to create Red Bird IMI, a sports and media M&A vehicle.
International Media Investments ultimate owner? Sheikh Mansour.
