Manchester City are fearing another attack on their arrival at Anfield one year after their team bus was hit by missiles before Champions League tie with Liverpool
- Man City’s team bus was attacked at Anfield last year before a European game
- But the club fears a repeat after posters encouraged a hostile greeting for City
- Liverpool apologised for the 2018 incident but City are now seeking assurances
- The flyer urges fans to bring ‘pyro, pints, flags and banners’ to the crucial clash
Manchester City have sought security assurances from Liverpool over posters advertising a hostile greeting for Sunday’s game.
Liverpool apologised unreservedly after City’s bus was attacked while snaking its way towards Anfield for a Champions League knockout tie in 2018.
Last season’s Premier League game went off without a hitch but a flyer urging home supporters to ‘bring pyro, pints, flags and banners’ as City arrive on Merseyside has prompted apprehension.
Manchester City’s team bus is pelted with objects as the team arrive for the game in 2018
A close-up of the bus, which had to be written off, shows bottles and cans being launched
Merseyside Police were criticised when City’s coach was attacked after they published the route beforehand, and this time details will be kept secret.
Missiles were thrown at the vehicle with such force that it had to be written off.
Pep Guardiola already has enough to worry about with injuries, not least to goalkeeper Ederson, who was forced off with a thigh problem at half-time of Wednesday’s 1-1 Champions League draw at Atalanta.
Liverpool went on to beat City across both legs of the tie but lost to Real Madrid in the final
Ederson will have more tests on Friday but City fear he will not recover in time. Claudio Bravo, who was sent off while deputising against Atalanta, is ready to stand in for the Brazilian. The champions head to Anfield hoping to close a six-point gap in what is likely to be another nail-biting title race.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have escaped punishment for an offensive banner that was unfurled at a Champions League game in Genk. An image of a naked black man with Divock Origi’s head superimposed was on display in the away end.
But no reference was made to the banner in the official reports that were submitted to UEFA and that meant they were unable to open a case.