Merseyside police ready for explosive Liverpool vs Man City clash... amid concerns Blues' bus could be targeted by fans ahead of first game since guilty verdict

Published: 11:35 EDT, 7 October 2026 | Updated: 11:54 EDT, 7 October 2026 Police on Merseyside say they are ready for Sunday’s potentially explosive clash between Liverpool and Manchester City – amid concerns the visitors' team bus could be met with a pre-planned, hostile ‘welcome’.The Anfield clash will be City’s first since they were found guilty of widespread breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules, which could see them relegated.An independent panel found that around £900million had been illegally pumped into the club between 2009 and 2018, in a verdict that has sent shockwaves through football and triggered anger among fans of rival teams.Given City’s ascent, rivalry between the two clubs has been on the rise for some time and there have been incidents at previous matches between the two.And given the panel’s verdict, the eyes of the football world will be on Anfield not just for the match itself, but for what promises to be a feisty build up.One social media post is advertising a ‘Bus Greeting’ around two hours before the 4.30pm kick-off on Anfield Road. Merseyside police are planning for a hostile welcome for Man City's bus by Liverpool fansFans are asked to bring ‘flags, banners, pyros, flares, kopparbergs’. A wink emoji is placed after Kopparberg, which is a popular cider served in a bottle.Police are aware of the poster and have said that they will have ‘an appropriate policing plan in place’.In 2024, they launched a widescale operation ahead of a fixture between the two sides amid similar concerns that City’s team bus would be targeted. Back then, their arrival passed without incident thanks in no small part to a detour.Later that season, a man was banned from football and handed a community order after he launched a glass bottle at Manchester United’s team bus as it made its way to the ground.Back in 2018, City officials were left bemused when Merseyside Police failed to make a single arrest after their coach was attacked with bottles, bricks and flares ahead of a Champions League quarter-final first leg. Thousands of pounds of damage was caused to the vehicle carrying then-manager Pep Guardiola and his side, with a replacement drafted in to take them home.