Money has long been a theme in meetings of Liverpool against Manchester City. It promised to be once again when the transfer window concluded. This, it seemed, was set to be the first Premier League game to feature five £100m men and both of those who share the British record as the £125m buys. Then, after the independent commission’s verdict on City cast some of their past spending in a different light, came what might be deemed less dramatic news: Alexander Isak is injured.
Not for the first time, either, but not seriously, Andoni Iraola believes. So instead there could be two players on each side who cost nine-figure sums: the Liverpool duo of Florian Wirtz, whose £100m fee could rise to £116m, and Bradley Barcola, who joined for £106m, which could go up to £123m, and the City midfield pair of the £116m Elliot Anderson and the £125m Enzo Fernandez.
