Liverpool make key move ahead of Man City 115 charges decision amid verdict wait

Liverpool are among four Premier League clubs to have lodged legal notices that would enable them to seek compensation should Manchester City be found guilty of serious offences in their legal wrangle with the Premier League.

Back in January, City were hit with 115 charges by the Premier League relating financial irregularities over a period of some 10 years. City have denied any wrongdoing and the case is currently being heard by an independent commission who will deliver its verdict by early next year.

On Wednesday, The Times revealed that the Reds, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur had all lodged legal notices after clubs were made aware of a legal argument that meant they may be time-barred from seeking compensation due to the length of time that has passed since Manchester City’s alleged breaches became apparent.

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Liverpool, the ECHO has learned, through dialogue with their legal firm, were advised to protect their position as it pertains to damages, in the event that City were to be severely punished as a result of the independent commission’s findings.

Lawyers of the four clubs advised them that there was a potential six-year statute of limitations period dating from November 5, 2018, which was the date when the German website Der Spiegel first published the Football Leaks documents.

Following those allegations, Manchester City faced a legal battle with UEFA, one where they were initially handed a two-year ban from European competition before that decision was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. A significant part of Manchester City’s successful defence in that matter was that the alleged breaches of financial regulation were time-barred.

In the event of City being found guilty, clubs could seek compensation for such things as loss of income from merit payments or missing out on such things as lucrative Champions League qualification.

Any such attempt to gain compensation would not be done through the courts as they are not permitted to sue each other through that process. It would instead be done through arbitration under the Premier League’s ‘Section X’.