Money Talks As Liverpool Prepare For Manchester City Clash Amid Injury Concerns
Money has been a recurring theme in meetings between Liverpool and Manchester City, and it promised to be once more when the transfer window closed. This fixture appeared destined to be the first Premier League match to include five players costing £100m, alongside the two men holding the British record at £125m. Then, following the independent commission’s ruling on City that viewed some past spending differently, less dramatic news arrived: Alexander Isak is injured.
Not for the first time, Andoni Iraola does not view the injury as severe. Consequently, both sides could start with two nine-figure assets. Liverpool will rely on Florian Wirtz, costing £100m with a potential rise to £116m, and Bradley Barcola, who arrived for £106m, possibly reaching £123m. City count on £116m midfielder Elliot Anderson and £125m midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
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City led Premier League spending in 2026, while Liverpool recorded the highest net spend of the summer. Despite over £650m spent across the last three transfer windows, a draw at Anfield would show their strategy remains self-funding. The club only invests within its means, using income from sales, broadcasts, commerce, and matchdays.
Liverpool chose quality above squad size. They could have assembled more players but opted for fewer expensive ones. This matches the first match following the finding that City had received over £900m in hidden finance. The striker Liverpool may face could be an untested rookie who required no fee and has not yet started a Premier League match, Lewis Koumas.
Iraola is still weighing his alternatives. Hugo Ekitike, the £69m Isak replacement who excelled last season, remains unavailable. Federico Chiesa, viewed as a failed Moneyball move by former sporting director Richard Hughes, is returning from injury but has not played this season. Iraola has offered no complaints.
“We also have other players who can cover the positions,” he said. “When you coach Liverpool is you still have very good players available. I trust the players we have ready to go.”
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Even the sensible temporary option is out. Cody Gakpo, performing well this season and experienced at attacking forward, is injured. This could see one of the £100m signings lead the line, either Wirtz dropping deep as a false nine or Barcola using his pace higher up. “I think he can cover the three positions up front,” Iraola added. “He’s a super-valuable player for us.”
The opposing view holds that Barcola’s finishing remains unpredictable despite his speed. He has not scored for Liverpool yet. “I said it [after his] first game, against Atletico Madrid, he missed two or three quite clear chances,” Iraola said. “I don’t care. Honestly. I care but I want him to see [him] there.”
Whether France international Barcola or local boy Koumas plays high, the difference against City’s Erling Haaland is clear. Haaland is the only dedicated striker in Enzo Maresca’s squad, so City lack depth there, though Iraola might point to Plan B attacking option Antoine Semenyo, who improved significantly under his Bournemouth guidance. Liverpool wanted Semenyo when he opened in January, and City had the money to buy him, even if Barcola cost much more seven months later.
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City’s defence offers another connection. Marc Guehi nearly signed for Liverpool last summer before choosing City in January, where a higher salary made the Etihad Stadium appealing. Playing for Crystal Palace and City saw him feature in five wins against Liverpool last season across four competitions. Arne Slot believed his previous transfer target deserved a red card when Guardiola’s City beat them at Anfield.
Liverpool were defending champions while hunting Guehi; joining City, he likely believed silverware was more achievable there. Those expectations might now be shattered.
City lead the table, yet the immediate risk to their campaign comes off the pitch. Their situation depends more on lawyers in the footballing courts than on their defenders.
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Liverpool face a separate reality. Iraola has flagged that their next four league matches come against the current top four. These fixtures will test their prospects, and the opposition style makes the squad shortage awkward. Still, Isak’s thigh issue has become a side story in the build-up, overshadowed by larger problems.