According to reports from The Mail, Liverpool have made legal representation to try and get Manchester City banned from Europe.
Liverpool have joined forces with seven other Premier League clubs including Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, Leicester, Wolves and Burnley to submit an application to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which will oversee City’s appeal against their two-year ban from European competitions.
City were handed a 48-month ban last month, although their appeal allows them to continue their current participation in the competition.
The application from Liverpool and PL representatives asks that City will not be permitted to feature in the Champions League next season even if their appeal is delayed or deferred.
City’s ban was inflicted following a number of serious allegations that reported numerous breaches of Financial Fair Play.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 10: Raheem Sterling of Man City goes down under pressure from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Sadio Mane of Liverpool but no penalty is given during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City at Anfield on November 10, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Getty Images)
How this could benefit Liverpool
Liverpool’s stance on the matter will have no regard to the two team’s growing rivalry over the years, and instead will be solely to hold City accountable for their ban.
As it stands, if Pep Guardiola and City were kicked out of Europe it would see the final spots for Champions League places awarded to the team currently ranked in fifth.
It would also cause uncertainty in the City camp and fuel transfer speculation regarding a number of the club’s biggest stars which from a competitive point of view, can only benefit Liverpool.
At a time of serious confusion and uncertainty in football, City’s Champions League ban is arguably one of the more ambiguous factors still left unresolved. Liverpool alongside a large chunk of the PL are attempting to bring some clarity to the situation with this latest move.