Ex-Liverpool defender Glen Johnson believes his former club should raid Manchester City if they are relegated from the Premier League.
How Liverpool could benefit from Man City’s charges
Man City have now lodged an appeal after being found guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of Premier League financial rules, but if they are unsuccessful, the punishment could have major ramifications on the landscape of English football.
Rival Premier League clubs are said to believe a points deduction isn’t enough, should City return to the top flight after one season, and Jamie Carragher has made it clear the situation needs to be resolved as quickly as possible to preserve the integrity of the competition.
Carragher said: “I know the word at the moment is sham; it’ll almost make the Premier League of this season, the title to be won would be a sham, if Man City went on to win that league with what we know has gone on.
“So it has to be done this season, and I think the punishment, whatever it should be, I don’t think it can be a one-off punishment for one season, because this has gone on for years and years, so I think the punishment should go on for years and years.”
There is also the matter of the trophies won during the alleged rule-breaking period, with the Reds potentially in line to be awarded five trophies depending on the severity of the punishment.
|
Trophies Liverpool could be awarded |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Competition |
Year |
Result |
Manager |
|
Premier League |
2013/14 |
Runners-up (84 points) |
Brendan Rodgers |
|
EFL Cup |
2015/16 |
1-1 draw, pens 1-3 |
Jurgen Klopp |
|
Premier League |
2018/19 |
Runners-up (97 points) |
Jurgen Klopp |
|
Community Shield |
2019/20 |
1-1 draw, pens 4-5 |
Jurgen Klopp |
|
Premier League |
2021/22 |
Runners-up (92 points) |
Jurgen Klopp |
Although receiving the trophies in retrospect would undoubtedly feel a lot more hollow, the Reds could be in line to add several more trophies to their cabinet, and they could also benefit from City players becoming available on the transfer market.
For instance, Arsenal have already opened shock discussions regarding a deal for Erling Haaland, who has scored five goals in five Premier League matches this season, but there have been suggestions the Reds should look at signing two different City players.
Glen Johnson tells Liverpool to sign Donnarumma and Semenyo
Glen Johnson was speaking exclusively to Football FanCast on behalf of Live Football Tickets, and said, when asked who Liverpool should sign if Man City are relegated: “Probably the keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. But you could make a case for so many of them. They built one hell of a team. You’d make a case for Antoine Semenyo and most of the centre backs. You’d have fun picking, put it that way. It will be interesting if it gets to that stage.”
Donnarumma moved to the Etihad Stadium from Paris Saint-Germain for £26m last summer, whereas Semenyo was a £64m addition in January 2026, which means the total outlay for the duo was £90m.
The Italian goalkeeper could be a long-term successor to Alisson, considering he is 27-years-old, and kept 15 Premier League clean sheets during his debut campaign, whereas Semenyo has two goals and three assists to his name in the top flight this term.
