Manchester City

The former Manchester City striker who was the inspiration behind fans originally bringing inflatable bananas into matches back in the 1980s says seeing them again in the away end at Anfield was "brilliant".

Supporters renamed Imre Varadi, Imre banana after a fan bought an inflatable banana to Maine Road and it quickly became an unofficial mascot during the club's days lower down the Football League.

As a show of defiance and call back to a previous era, travelling supporters unveiled them during the the 3-0 win against Liverpool on Sunday - City's first game since being found guilty of all charges related to breaches of the Premier League's financial rules.

• Why do Man City fans have bananas?

"It was amazing," Varadi told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Bringing a lot of fun back into the game. The game itself was a terrific game obviously but just to see the inflatable craze coming back from the 80s when I was playing at the old Maine Road, it was a joy. Brilliant to see and it brought a lot of fun back."

It is likely Varadi is also happy with the resurgence of bananas in the stands as he set up a company that sells the yellow inflatables alongside City's official merchandise.

"I started it but it was 40 years ago and it's still going strong now as we all saw at Anfield yesterday," he added.

"I'm really proud of the Imre Banana. I'm that proud of it, and being associated with playing for City many years ago, that I've started my own company which I sell my product in the City stores".

Varadi scored 26 league goals two season for City between 1986 and 1988, but says it is still the bananas that he is best remembered for.

"They bring up the banana very quickly, but recognise?" he joked.

"As you can see I've got no hair now, completely bald. But I love it like that. I do the radio a little bit for Man City on BBC Radio Manchester . But no, nobody recognises me so much nowadays.

"They did when I had hair in my playing days! I go about my life quietly nowadays."

Image source, Getty Images

Man City fan Steven McInerney says the team showed how hard it will be to beat them this season, despite "much of the world" wanting them to lose.

In their first game since the club were handed guilty verdicts by the Premier League in relation to breaching financial rules, City silenced the hostile atmosphere at Anfield to comfortably take apart 10-man Liverpool.

"That was a performance to be proud of from Manchester City and it felt so good as a fan," said McInerney.

"After the three weeks we've had I needed that as well.

"I wanted to watch my team play football again. I understand the frustrations of rivals, absolutely, but I'm a football fan. I'm not making decisions in the boardroom. I'm not arguing in court over this.

"I want to watch football. I don't care where City are, that's what I'll do. I have every right to go and watch City and sing for them on days like this and I throroughly enjoyed it.

"Those players are brilliant professionals full of quality, desire, hard work and integrity. As much as the world wanted City to lose, we showed just how hard that will be.

"While everyone else talks, Manchester City, due to their incredible quality, will keep on winning. That is a wonderful collection of players and that is a massive three points."

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Manchester City made what they will regard as a powerful statement in the most hostile territory against Liverpool at Anfield - but is it a statement that carries any weight during a Premier League season in limbo?

City's attention turned to on-field matters in their first game since being found guilty of 114 charges related to breaches of Premier League financial rules between 2009-10 and 2017-18.

Fate, and the fixture list, decreed it would be at Liverpool, whose fans nurse the most burning sense of injustice after finishing second to City in 2013-14, 2018-19 and 2021-22.

Their argument centres on the belief those titles could have been theirs had City not possessed the high finance of their Abu Dhabi-based owners, using it in the manner that led to them being investigated.

With this as the backdrop, City strode into this fevered Anfield atmosphere, with Liverpool fans high on adrenaline and determined to make their contempt for their rivals obvious - then outclassed Andoni Iraola's side in a 3-0 win.

Once the predictable sound and fury had been diluted by City's composure and the swift realisation they were not unnerved by Anfield or the storm raging around the club, this was a surreal experience.

After the feast of excitement delivered when Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp presided over the greatest domestic rivalry of recent years, this was an occasion - remarkable as it seems - that seemed robbed of a sense of jeopardy by the circumstances surrounding it.

City have appealed against the verdict, but until the dust settles and final decisions are made, this Premier League season is in a holding pattern.

When City come to Anfield and win, especially as convincingly as they did here, it should be a victory without qualification or questions.

This does not apply amid the current uncertainty.

Every victory, every league table, will come with a metaphorical asterisk until clarity and finality comes. No-one knows when this will be.

There can be no escape from the cloud hanging over Manchester City because every win will carry the same rider - producing a state of inertia that is not good for the Premier League.

This, in essence, is what makes this Premier League campaign one that might yet be rendered void. City might win the title - but who knows if they will be here next season?

As Maresca's side move into top gear and threaten to accelerate away from the chasing pack with wins such as this, no-one has a clue what their final destination will be.

Read more on a season in limbo

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Liverpool and Manchester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Liverpool fans

Johnie: City showed their class in the final third, they were ruthless after the red card. Our paper thin squad is now starting to show with more injuries, suspensions and a big run of tough games. We will know where we are by the next international break.

Harry: Very good game until the sending off. They weren't yellow cards but the ref thought otherwise. LFC lacked the depth from the bench which cost us. Too many injuries and top players who never got going.

Ian: We are seriously lacking a cutting edge. Big signings are anonymous.

Alex: Liverpool were always going to be up against it with Isak, Gakpo and Szoboszlai all injured. Nevertheless we were competing and were well in the game until Kavanagh dismissed Gravenberch, who was arguably our best player. I like Iraola, he will get us to where we need to be given time.

Anthony: Gravenberch was untouchable and the midfield. It was all Liverpool until the red card. Referee was too hasty in giving the second yellow. Doku made the difference for City.

Man City fans

Harry Y: It's not my job to apologise for what my club's ownership have done. This game may eventually have meant nothing, but for now it's moments like that from Cherki which I live for. Who knows where we're going to end up, but I'm enjoying where we are. For all this talk of a hostile atmosphere, it ended up being much easier than last year. For the cost of Isak and Wirtz you could have eight Cherki's, once again proving that it's not about the money, rather how you spend it.

Akash: Great courage and conviction shown by the lads. City also played better football and that is what matters most. It is shameful to taunt the players.

Dave: Just what we the supporters needed, as well as the players. A fantastic result.

Brian: This was a statement win in a week when statements were the headlines. To go to Anfield and play as a team and win with three different scorers was truly a credit to a team under so much pressure. This was Man City doing what they as a team can only do and that is play to their max and enjoy the game. The delight on their faces at the end was not relief but pride. This is a team riding high and playing to a very high standard. Man City fans can truly believe and empower this team to continue to show the world that we are City full of pride.

Match of the Day pundits Wayne Rooney and Toby Alderweireld had high praise for Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku, who changed the game at Anfield in City's favour with his introduction.

"He takes the ball, he's brave and gets at players and he's quick and he's powerful," said Rooney. "He is just so difficult to defend.

"He was wonderful in the second part of last season and he had an injury, but he's come back and picked that form straight back up."

Doku, who scored City's second goal at Liverpool, spoke to BBC Radio Manchester at full-time: "We are happy because we know hard hard it is to come here. From the start there was an intensity so we are all very happy that we won this game.

"Coming to Anfield is always intense, so it's what we expected. I am proud of my team-mates because we handled it well.

"When you're on the bench, you're just trying to analyse the game to see what impact you can make when you come on. I scored, so I'm happy.

"We prepared well for the game and it showed."

Listen to more from Doku, as well as Enzo Maresca, on BBC Sounds here

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

If Manchester City were feeling pressure from the storm raging around the club after being found guilty of those financial breaches, there was no sign of it in a commanding victory at Anfield.

City were not unnerved at any point, even when toxicity poured down from Anfield's stands in a predictably frantic opening phase.

Within minutes, City were playing with calm control that took the heat out of the atmosphere against a Liverpool side short of ideas and lacking the class and quality of their opponents.

Elliot Anderson was a powerhouse in midfield, while Gianluigi Donnarumma produced saves when required on the rare occasions Liverpool threatened.

And once Ryan Gravenberch was sent off, City were ruthless in making the most of their numerical advantage to seal what they will regard as a statement victory.

Erling Haaland was not going to miss a second opportunity when he blazed a finish past Alisson, while Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki scored goals of the highest class, to emphasise what coach Enzo Maresca, who was jubilant at the final whistle, has at his disposal.

And yet, for all this, there is still the question of what such wins will actually mean once City have been handed their punishment and the result of their appeal is known.

Manchester City starting XI:

Gianluigi Donnarumma: Had a shaky start but made a string of good saves early in the second half to deny Koumas and Gravenberch and keep the game level. 7

Matheus Nunes: An impressive display and made a great tackle in the box to deny Barcola in the first half. 7

Ruben Dias: Did well to weather the early storm and keep Liverpool out. 7

Marc Guehi: Like Dias, a strong performance at centre-half and can take satisfaction from the way they defended, especially when Liverpool attacked The Kop end. 7

Nico O'Reilly: Solid going forward but had his work cut out against Munoz and was inevitably booked when he fouled the Spaniard in the second-half. 6

Elliot Anderson: Always showed for the ball and constantly involved but lucky not to get booked for pulling Gravenberch back. Got the assist for Doku. 7

Enzo Fernandez: Forced Alisson to make a good stop in the first half but didn't really grow into the game until Gravenberch was sent off. 6

Iliman Ndiaye: Dangerous on the ball and had a few threatening moments before he was replaced by Doku. 6

Rayan Cherki: Capped off a day to remember for Man City with a lovely goal. 8

Antoine Semenyo: Threatening all afternoon and part of an attack that was simply too good for Liverpool once City had the man advantage. 7

Erling Haaland: Had a quiet first half and missed a huge chance early on in the second half but finished emphatically to give City the lead. 8

Manchester City substitutes:

Doku (on 56, Ndiaye): Came on and scored an absolute belter. 8

Gvardiol (on 66, O'Reilly): 7

Allan (on 80, Haaland):

Bouaddi (on 84, Fernandez):

Subs not used: Rulli, Kovacic, Reis, Khusanov, Lewis

Read the full article and see how you rated the players

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca speaking to Sky Sports: "Very difficult circumstances, difficult environment. We struggled first half, we were on the ball but not so much off the ball. Second half we made some adjustments and we were much better. In the build-up we were not doing the right things, second half we were better."

On the Anfield atmosphere: "We need to learn how to deal with the noise because the noise will be with us at all of our away games - there will be noise. We need to deal with that and make our noise. Our noise is to win games. The feeling at the end of the game with our fans and our noise, that's a nice feeling and a different noise."

More intense atmosphere than usual?: "I don't know exactly, I came here with City once before in the Treble season. It was nice to play this kind of game for the noise, the environment. We need to make our noise and deal with their noise."

On whether the off-field issues can galvanise the team: "Probably yes, probably no. I don't know. It can create togetherness with the fans. I said during the week bring the passion, bring the noise and hopefully we can celebrate a win. This is the only thing we can focus on."

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, speaking to Sky Sports: "Every single person part of Man City, and every fan, this is a lovely moment that will stay with us for a long time.

"It was tough, it was hard but we showed amazing character from back to front. So proud of everyone.

"It's always tough to come here, if you look at the record it's tough. With the Pep and Klopp era it was tough for both teams, always has been.

"Important to stay strong mentally, stick together and do what you can do something about and the thing we can do something about is to play good football and fight together. That's the only thing we can do."

Hear more from Maresca and Jeremy Doku on BBC Sounds

Did you know?

• There were just two minutes and 37 seconds between Ryan Gravenberch been sent off for Liverpool and Erling Haaland putting Manchester City 1-0 ahead.

• Rayan Cherki's goal for Manchester City came at the end of a sequence of 41 passes, the longest in the build up to a Premier League goal since Phil Foden's strike against Nottingham Forest in September 2023 (46).