With Manchester City in town to play their first match since they were found guilty on 114 charges of breaching the Premier League's financial rules, Liverpool fans in attendance at Anfield on Sunday were extremely keen to make their feelings known on the matter.
While Enzo Maresca's squad arrived on Merseyside prepared for a barrage of abuse, the demonstrations of rival fans actually began the previous day.
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On Saturday, Manchester United supporters were also quick to get in on the act and aim barbs at their cross-city rivals ahead of their game against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, with supporters in the Stretford End even reinstating the famous "ticking clock" up in the stands.
Referencing the last time City won a major trophy, the pithy banner was ever-present during United's Premier League heyday and reached the 35-year mark before being taken down in 2011 when City won the FA Cup.
However, following the recent guilty verdict, United's fans decided to relaunch the clock and forward the count to 51 years, thus negating all the trophies won by City since their Abu Dhabi takeover.
There were similar scenes on the cover of the "United We Stand" fanzine, which replaced all of City's titles with a large asterisk.
Outside Anfield on Sunday afternoon, the streets were awash with anti-City merchandise as stalls sold scarves, T-shirts and flags emblazoned with references to the scandal.
On offer among the array of merchandise was a "Cheats" T-shirt that used an Oasis-style font to ask "What's The Story, Tainted Glory?" with similar sentiments used to adorn a large sky-blue banner.
@MadferLiamG I'm there already stood outside ANFAILED on my own all the Scousers asking for selfies and kisses n cuddles BUMBACLARTS
— Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) October 11, 2026
Fittingly enough, Liam Gallagher offered his thoughts on the matter via a typically brusque prematch tweet in which the Oasis frontman responded to a fan by insisting he was outside Anfield and mingling with Liverpool fans.
The Liverpool team bus was greeted warmly with fans lining the street to herald the arrival of their heroes with chants and flares.
Back door entry at Anfield for Man City https://t.co/zltGxJZ85A
— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) October 11, 2026
The City team bus managed to evade the majority of the Liverpool supporters, who were no doubt keen to serenade their opposition.
The prematch police operation ensured that the buses bringing both teams to the stadium arrived at almost exactly the same time from different directions.
Having crept in using a different entrance around the back of the Anfield Road end, City made a relatively calm arrival and avoided a repeat of the scenes in 2018, when their bus was attacked by fans and badly damaged by objects thrown.
Once inside the ground, City were greeted with the sight of many signs, banners and even balloons that left no doubt as to how the home crowd felt.
Some of the banners bore messages using plays on famous Oasis lyrics and song titles.
Relegation from the Premier League is one of the possible punishments that could be levied at City. For fans of the club of a certain age, that is nothing new.
In a nod to a tradition that began during their years in the lower leagues, many City fans brought inflatable bananas with them to Anfield.
It's good that they can laugh about the situation their club is in, at least.