Glen Johnson claims Manchester City cheated Liverpool out of 2014 title
Ex-Liverpool star Glen Johnson has exclusively stated that Manchester City “cheated us” after they secured the Premier League title against the Reds in the 2013-14 season, following City being found guilty by an independent commission of breaching financial rules from the 2009-10 to 2017-18 season, reports BritPanorama.
The club has submitted an appeal, which will be reviewed by an appeal board within 12 weeks of filing on October 1. The matter of punishment will be addressed separately.
Johnson and his Liverpool teammates lost the league title to City by just two points, leading the former full-back to express feelings of being “cheated” by City. He remarked, “They broke the rules. We played by the rules, and we lost. So that is cheating.” He added that Liverpool clearly should have won the league during that period.
These remarks align with those of former manager Tony Pulis, who voiced similar sentiments regarding Stoke’s defeat to Manchester City during the 2011 FA Cup final. Johnson’s statements raise questions about the implications for key moments in the Premier League if the appeal board rules against City.
Reflecting on the potential ramifications of disciplinary actions, Johnson cautioned that any title reallocation could lead to widespread claims from other teams, complicating the league’s history. “If they do start taking away their titles, then they’ve got to give it to somebody else. So then, if they give it to us or whoever, then that will open up the door for everybody else to say: ‘Well, if Liverpool won the league, well, we would have finished fourth, or we would have finished, you know, second,'” he explained.
The issue of Manchester City’s financial conduct has stirred extensive discussion in the football community, with Johnson stressing the Premier League’s need for careful consideration in handling potential penalties. He noted, “I just think if you go down that road, it’ll be never-ending, and it could be hell. It’s impossible.”
Johnson’s comments come ahead of a highly anticipated match between Liverpool and Manchester City, which will now be played under the shadow of this ongoing scandal. Both teams enter the match undefeated this season, with City leading the league after five consecutive wins. The clash is set for Sunday at Anfield, with kick-off scheduled for 4:30pm.
