Manchester City ruling could give Steven Gerrard the Premier League title he never won

Manchester City’s guilty verdict over alleged financial rule breaches could have an extraordinary consequence for Steven Gerrard, with Liverpool potentially awarded the 2013-14 Premier League title if City are stripped of it.

Gerrard’s infamous slip against Chelsea in April 2014 allowed Demba Ba to collect the ball and score, a moment which helped decide the title race. Manchester City ultimately finished two points ahead of Liverpool, leaving the former Liverpool captain without a Premier League winner’s medal.

The incident has remained part of football folklore for 12 years. Gerrard is still known to some supporters by the mocking nickname “Slippy”, a reference to the stumble which appeared to end Liverpool’s hopes of becoming champions.

However, a ruling by the Premier League’s independent commission has raised the possibility of an unlikely reversal. The commission found Manchester City guilty of systematic breaches of financial regulations and said the club had used “sham” commercial agreements to artificially inject more than £900m into the club between 2009 and 2018.

That period includes the 2013-14 campaign, meaning a retrospective removal of Manchester City’s title could result in Liverpool being recognised as champions instead.

For Gerrard, the outcome would represent a remarkable change to one of the most painful moments of his career. Rather than lifting the trophy after securing it on the pitch, he could receive recognition 12 years later as the result of an administrative and legal process.

The verdict has intensified debate among Manchester City’s Premier League rivals. Clubs have called for severe sanctions, including relegation and expulsion, while also seeking significant financial compensation.

Manchester City have until Friday to lodge an appeal against the commission’s decision. The club is expected to contest the ruling through a legal process that could determine whether any sporting penalties, including the possible removal of titles, are imposed.

No decision has yet been made to change the historical record, and the appeal process will determine what happens next. But the findings have already challenged the idea that Manchester City’s success between 2009 and 2018 was achieved solely through performances on the pitch.

For more than a decade, opponents attempted to find a way to stop Manchester City through tactical plans and players on the field. The commission’s findings mean the club’s financial records may instead prove central to the biggest challenge yet to its achievements.

Should the 2013-14 title eventually be removed from Manchester City, Liverpool would be elevated to champions and Gerrard’s missing Premier League medal would finally be accounted for long after his slip against Chelsea became one of English football’s most enduring images.