Liverpool boss Arne Slot joked that Manchester City might not be in the Premier League next season amid the ongoing investigation into the club’s compliance with financial rules.
The Premier League charged City on 115 counts of breaches of financial regulations in February 2023 after opening an investigation five years earlier.
Slot’s comments came in response to a question about Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool future after the Egypt international said Sunday’s 2-0 win over City could be the last time he faces Pep Guardiola’s side at Anfield as the uncertainty over his future at the club continues.
“Maybe Mo knows more about the 115 acquisitions [charges] so expects them not to be there in the Premier League next season,” Slot quipped in a news conference on Tuesday ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Newcastle United.
“The boring answer is always the same. This is not the place for me to talk about Mo’s contract. It was a joke. I repeat, it was a joke.”
City strongly deny all of the charges against them and claimed in a statement that they have “irrefutable evidence” to support their position and “look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”
The charges relate to a 14-season period going back to 2009-10 and comprise 54 counts of failing to provide accurate information, 14 counts of failing to provide accurate details for player and manager payments, seven counts of breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, five counts of failing to comply with UEFA regulations, including financial fair play, and 35 counts of failing to cooperate with Premier League investigations from 2018 onward.
Liverpool’s victory over City on Sunday saw Slot’s side move 11 points clear of the champions and nine points clear at the top of the Premier League table. However, the Dutchman has played down talk of his side being title favourites, insisting there is a long way to go until the end of the season.
“It’s not that special for us to be on top of the Premier League or the Champions League,” he said.
“This club, this team, these players are used to be top of the league and competing for every trophy. They have experienced this. They also know it’s a long season and to win the league against the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and City — because I see those three as our main competitors — that you have to be on top of our game for 10 months.
“We’ve seen the quality of the three already and know we have to stay on top of our game. We now face Newcastle who beat Arsenal and Chelsea at home, and drew with City. They don’t need me to tell them how tough a game it will be.”
