Liverpool are finally set to face Manchester City for the first time since the Premier League delivered them a ‘guilty’ verdict for over 100 financial rule breaches in September.

All eyes have been on Sunday’s fixture at Anfield since it emerged that City would likely be heavily punished for their rule-breaking, with Liverpool arguably the club to have had the most taken from them by the Citizens.

One sanction being discussed is the possibility of City having the three Premier League titles they won during the period in question being taken from them and handed to the runner-up. This would see Liverpool belatedly awarded the 2013/14 crown. According to BBC Sport journalist Dale Johnson, though, this is not especially likely to happen.

Liverpool unlikely to be awarded 13/14 title

Liverpool were unlikely challengers to City during the 13/14 Premier League season, but, propelled by the unbelievable Luis Suarez, they came within four points of Manuel Pellegrini’s team.

Handing the Reds the trophy 12 years on would mean Steven Gerrard getting a richly deserved winners’ medal, and some fans would no doubt like to see that happen as a result.

Speaking on BBC Football, however, Johnson claimed that while City may be stripped of their championships, it is currently unlikely that they would be re-awarded to any other team.

“I think it’s highly unlikely that the titles and trophies will get redistributed,” said the journalist. “It could be that they’re removed from Manchester City.”

“We had an example of Juventus in the mid 00s, 2004/05/06. Now they were stripped of the 04/05 league title but that was not redistributed. Milan who finished second did not get the trophy. And then the following year, because the judgment came right at the end of the season, Inter Milan were given the trophy. Juventus were placed from top to bottom and then relegated.

“I think it’s very unlikely that we’ll see the trophies go to – there was two for Manchester United and another one for Liverpool in terms of Premier League titles – I’d be surprised if they got redistributed. It could be that they are left vacant.”

Even if City’s cheating was punished in the most extreme of ways and Liverpool did find themselves with an extra league title, it is unlikely that it would be too heavily celebrated at Anfield. The moment has long since passed and while Gerrard and co would technically be able to call themselves Premier League champions, there would be little joy in that.