The Premier League’s most contentious legal battle could rewrite football history—and for Liverpool, it would finally deliver justice. If Manchester City’s titles between 2009 and 2018 are vacated due to financial irregularities, Brendan Rodgers’ 2013/14 side would be retroactively crowned champions, handing Steven Gerrard the elusive winners’ medal he never received. The implications stretch beyond Anfield, reshaping the trophy cabinets of Manchester United, Liverpool’s rivals, and even Pep Guardiola’s City, whose dominance would be dismantled piece by piece.
Rodgers’ Liverpool finished second to City by just two points in 2013/14, but the margin was so narrow that a single result—such as a late Sergio Agüero goal or a defensive blunder—could have swung the title. That season, Gerrard’s leadership and Luis Suárez’s 17 goals were pivotal, yet the trophy eluded them. Now, the possibility of a retrospective award looms, a rare moment where football’s administrative decisions could correct a career-long injustice. Players like Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, and Romelu Lukaku—who would have been in their primes during that era—would also earn medals they never won, altering the narrative of their careers.
Manchester United’s position is equally intriguing. Jose Mourinho’s 2017/18 side finished 19 points behind City, but if the titles are stripped, United could retroactively claim two more league crowns—one in 2011/12 (Sir Alex Ferguson’s 14th) and another in 2017/18. Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, and Ryan Giggs would have their legacy redefined, with the latter two finally receiving medals for their 2013/14 and 2017/18 campaigns. Even Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, runners-up to City in 2019 and 2022 by a single point, would have their near-misses turned into trophies, though the Premier League’s rules on retrospective action remain unclear.
The debate over whether City should be stripped of their titles has raged for years, but the potential fallout is now unavoidable. If the Premier League’s governing body enforces sanctions, the consequences would ripple through the competition’s history, altering the records of the most decorated clubs. For Liverpool, it would be poetic justice—Gerrard’s final trophy, Rodgers’ first major honour, and a season that could finally be remembered as the one that mattered. The question now is whether football’s administrators have the courage to rewrite the past—or if the status quo will prevail.
