The England star lined up to replace Xabi Alonso, a Spanish wizard who became immortal and a wonderkid snatched from their grasp: The signings Liverpool missed out on to Man City during ‘cheating’ era

DAILYMAIL.COM • 3h ago

By WILL PICKWORTH 08:28 11 Oct 2026, updated 08:28 11 Oct 2026

When Manchester City’s players walk out at Anfield on Sunday, the reception they receive is likely to be one of the most hostile in Premier League history.

It will be the first game for Enzo Maresca’s side since the club were found guilty of 114 of 115 financial rule breach charges levelled at them by the top flight. City maintain their innocence and are appealing the verdict.

City were blasted by the Premier League for making ‘sham’ agreements to manipulate their financial accounts to the tune of £900million over a nine-season period from 2009-2018 which saw them win eight trophies, leading to many reflecting on how that timeframe should now be judged.

Given their rivalry with Liverpool over that era and beyond, their recent history is intertwined, and the fixture computer could hardly have come up with a more mouth-watering encounter for the return of club football this weekend. For reference, City edged out the Reds to the title in 2013-14, 2018-19 and 2021-22.

But it wasn’t just on the pitch where City got the better of Liverpool – who did win the league in 2019-20 and 2024-25 – with the Etihad-based club signing several big-name players who could have ended up at Anfield over the offending nine-year period.

So, in light of Sunday’s blockbuster encounter, Daily Mail Sport has taken a look at some of those examples.

Gareth Barry was a transformative signing for the Abu Dhabi era at Man City, but he so nearly could have lined up against them in the red of Liverpool.

Back in the summer of 2008, the Reds had a series of bids – rising up to £15million – rejected by Aston Villa, with Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez looking to bring in Barry as a replacement for Xabi Alonso amid a growing rift with the Spaniard.

But Villa held firm, much to Barry’s ire, and the midfielder was stripped of the captaincy after publicly criticising boss Martin O’Neill in an unauthorised interview.

Following a messy transfer saga, Barry stayed at Villa Park for one more year before he moved to the Etihad for just £12m the following summer in the same window that Alonso departed Anfield for Real Madrid.

This was a blow for the Reds, with Barry helping City win their first Premier League title in 2011-12, while they made a series of failed midfield signings instead over the following two seasons, including Alberto Aquilani, Christian Poulsen, Jonjo Shelvey and Charlie Adam.

City’s newfound ambition under Sheikh Mansour’s ownership helped convince Barry, as did their ability to offer favourable financial terms, believed to be a reported £100,000-a-week in wages, to a midfielder who went on to become the Premier League’s record appearance holder.

Man City’s 2010 signing of David Silva is one of the best bits of business in the club’s history, but again, things could’ve been so different.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez had previously managed Valencia, and the Spanish club helped to develop several talented Spanish stars such as Isco, Juan Mata, Jordi Alba and David Villa during the 2000s.

Yet it was Silva who was at the top of his wishlist, with the midfielder’s agency InterFootball Management revealing in 2009 that longstanding talks with Liverpool were ongoing as Benitez worked hard to progress a move for the playmaker.

It felt like Silva would one day move to Anfield, but as discussions continued City pounced in 2010, offering him a lucrative contract after agreeing a £24m fee with substantial bonuses attached.

City weren’t in the Champions League at the time, yet their financial and sporting ambition, coupled with off-pitch turmoil at Anfield under the controversial Tom Hicks and George Gillett ownership, ensured they beat Liverpool to the punch.

Silva was worth every penny, winning 13 trophies at the club over a glittering decade, achievements that saw him honoured with a statue in August 2021.

The summer of 2010 was a busy one for Man City as they looked to assert their authority in the market, with Yaya Toure, Aleksandar Kolarov and Mario Balotelli among the other big-name stars to arrive that summer.

But a major piece of business came in the form of James Milner, who followed his former Villa team-mate Gareth Barry’s path a year later for a £26m fee.

It wasn’t an easy deal to complete though, with Liverpool, Man United and Chelsea also touted with a potential a move for the midfielder.

A hefty fee, plus Stephen Ireland going in the opposite direction to Villa and the ability to double Milner’s wages, meant the midfielder – who was also attracted by the possibility of helping to launch an era of success at the Etihad – went to City.

He proved to be a hit, winning two Premier League titles, although he did end up joining Liverpool in 2015 on a free transfer where he became a key part of Jurgen Klopp’s team.

Raheem Sterling’s then-British record £49m move to Man City from Liverpool may not officially count as a signing the Reds missed out on, yet the transfer, which was controversial at the time, was a major example of City flexing their financial muscle over their rivals.

During the Abu Dhabi era, transfers between the two clubs have been rare, and the deal for the English forward marked a flashpoint.

Sterling had enjoyed a stunning breakthrough campaign in 2013-14, a year in which City narrowly pipped the Reds to the title, but speculation quickly started to circulate about his future.

This culminated in a major contract dispute between Sterling and Liverpool, with the forward heavily criticised for his conduct at the time, which included an unsanctioned interview with the BBC during the height of the saga.

His agent Aidy Ward was similarly disparaged for his actions and advice, with one combustible interview with the Evening Standard riling up supporters.

In it, Ward said: ‘I don’t care about the PR of the club (Liverpool) and the club situation… he (Sterling) is definitely not signing. He’s not signing for £700,000, £800,000, £900,000-a-week.’

In what was a very ugly and drawn-out affair, City agreed a fee for Sterling and he went on to help spearhead a glorious period, eventually leaving for Chelsea in 2022 after lifting 11 trophies with the club.

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