Kop make spit claim a priority
LIVERPOOL have stepped up their investigation into allegations that an Anfield fan spat at Pep Guardiola’s backroom staff.
The Reds have sent members of their in-house security team to Manchester City.
City lodged a complaint with the Merseyside club following the epic 2-2 draw earlier this month.
The Premier League champions claimed a home supporter spat towards their touchline bench as City staff and substitutes celebrated Phil Foden’s second-half equaliser.
Liverpool immediately launched a probe into the accusations – and last week they sent a team to the City Football Academy to take witnesses statements.
A City source said: “Liverpool have taken the complaint extremely seriously and have promised to take firm action.
“There is a wealth of evidence to prove what
happened.” Liverpool are ready to issue a lifetime ban if the allegation is substantiated.
They have also promised to send all evidence gathered to Merseyside Police to see if criminal charges can be laid.
There has been a strained relationship between the clubs – but City have been impressed with Liverpool’s response to the matter.
Guardiola is still angry about the attack which wrecked City’s £500,000 team bus and left his players shaken before a Champions League quarter-final meeting at Anfield in 2018.
Merseyside Police had published the route City would be taking to the stadium.
They had given the Blues assurances about their safety – but then failed to make a single arrest despite having officers on duty outside the stadium and then gathering hours of film footage of the attack.