EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool legend Graeme Souness says Manchester City players will use their hostile receptions across the Premier League to fuel their latest title bid

Graeme Souness says getting booed “would turn me on” after Manchester City was given a hostile reception from Liverpool fans at Anfield amid the club being found guilty on 114 of 115 Premier League charges for unprecedented financial breaches.

City has been accused of breaching Premier League financial rules in a case that has cast a shadow over the club's success. The charges, announced in February 2023, cover alleged breaches relating to financial reporting, player and manager remuneration, and compliance with financial regulations over a nine-year period from 2009 to 2018.

An independent commission found City guilty of all charges relating to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules, alongside the majority of allegations concerning the club's failure to co-operate with the investigation.

The findings included the use of alleged “sham” sponsorship agreements to inflate revenues and reduce costs by more than $1.2 billion. City has strongly denied wrongdoing and lodged an appeal against the verdict, with potential sanctions yet to be determined.

The independent commission’s findings were announced during the last international break, while most of City’s players were away playing for their respective countries. However, when they returned to the club’s City Football Academy, preparations began, with their first opponents back since the break being one of their biggest adversaries: Liverpool.

Liverpool emerged as one of City's biggest rivals during the period covered by the charges, most notably in 2013/14, when City edged the Reds to the Premier League title by just two points.

City, reaping the rewards of its alleged financial misconduct, laid the groundwork for some of the Greatest Premier League title races in recent memory, as two high-powered squads went toe-to-toe for Premier League supremacy during the Jurgen Klopp era.

And so, the scene was set for last Sunday. Two of the league’s biggest rivals, going head-to-head at Anfield, in front of an emotionally charged crowd, who made their feelings crystal clear in the backdrop of the historic findings.

“Look back in anger, Shamchester,” one banner read. “And after all, you really robbed us all,” another said, with both banners playing on the words of the famous City fans Oasis. However, City’s stars were unnerved and laser-focused on the task at hand. Enzo Maresca’s men put the sword to the Reds, running out 3-0 winners, stunning Anfield.

Legendary Liverpool player and manager Souness believes the atmosphere and banners had the exact opposite effect to that initially intended. “I'll tell you what happens with big players. I love being booed. I love being booed,” Souness told Liverpool.com amid his latest book release, 'My Rangers: How I Changed Scottish Football For Ever.'

"That would turn me on. Big players are like that. I'm thinking of (Lionel) Messi playing against (Sergio) Ramos in El Clasico several years ago. Ramos smashes him in the mouth, Messi's covered in blood. Messi just went to another gear. Big players respond to criticism. It makes them try even more.

“So they have obviously got big players at Man City. And if they're getting booed and banners are being unfurled, I think it may have the opposite effect to what the supporters wanted to happen. They'll just be more motivated. That's what big players do.”

The punishment for City has yet to be announced. The penalties could range from a hefty fine to expulsion from the Premier League, with City being warned it could face “multiple double-figure” points deductions.

Souness says the implications are global. News of the breaches has spread to all four corners of the world. Souness says the punishment has to be “severe.”

“They're guilty,” Souness said. “They will appeal it. They'll try to kick the can down the road for as long as they possibly can. Hopefully, it doesn't drag on.

“The bigger picture for me is, you know, I was in a lift in Dubai a year ago, 10 months ago. And it's just this guy and me in the lift. He's looking at me, and I'm thinking, ‘He knows who I am.’ And eventually, he asked me. I said, ‘Well, how do you know me?’ He says, ‘I'm from Mongolia.’

“And I said, ‘Well, how come you know me?’ He said, ‘Oh, the Premier League in Mongolia is enormous.’ So the story about Man City has gone to all four corners of the world. And that's the bigger picture. What damage it does to the Premier League going forward. There has to be a severe punishment.”