Ex-Liverpool star Glen Johnson has exclusively told GB News he feels Manchester City “cheated us” after beating the Reds to the Premier League title in the 2013-14 season.
City were recently found guilty by an independent commission over allegations covering the 2009-10 to 2017-18 season, including breaching financial rules.
The club has lodged an appeal, which will be heard by an appeal board within 12 weeks of it being lodged on October 1, and the question of punishment will be handled separately.
Johnson and his Liverpool teammates lost the Premier League title to City in 2014 by two points, with the former Reds full-back telling GB News through LiveFootballTickets he feels “cheated” by City.
In an exclusive interview with GB News, Glen Johnson said he feels Manchester City ‘cheated us’ after missing out on the Premier League title in the 2013-14 season
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He said: “They broke the rules. We played by the rules, and we lost. So that is cheating.
“Obviously, I’m not taking it personally in terms of cheating me, but absolutely, Liverpool should have, we should have won the league; there’s no doubt about it. Absolutely, in that period, we have been cheated.”
The former Liverpool star’s words echo those of Tony Pulis, who took a similar position regarding Stoke’s loss to Manchester City in the 2011 FA Cup final.
Johnson’s perspective calls into question whether several major Premier League moments from that season would mean the same if the appeal board found City guilty.
Manchester City won their second Premier League title in 2014 after beating Liverpool by two points
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Steven Gerrard’s infamous slip against Chelsea, which led to Jose Mourinho running up the Anfield touchline and Crystal Palace’s comeback from three goals down against Liverpool, often referred to as ‘Crystanbul’, are all called into question as to whether they carry the same merit.
The matter of punishment has been discussed across the footballing world, and Johnson emphasised the Premier League’s need to be “careful” with what it may hand out.
He told the People’s Channel: “Be aware of the fact that if they do start taking away their titles, then they’ve got to give it to somebody else.
“So then, if they give it to us or whoever, then that will open up the door for everybody else to say: ‘Well, if Liverpool won the league, well, we would have finished fourth, or we would have finished, you know, second.’
Glen Johnson said City ‘broke the rules. We played by the rules, and we lost. So that is cheating’
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“So then I just think that would literally be impossible to navigate, and would take probably 10 years in admin to try and keep everyone happy.
“And because, like I say, they would come out of the woodwork. Players would come out of the woodwork, and also for many reasons.
“Because if you’re from Liverpool. Let’s just say someone left Liverpool that season, they would have left the title winners, and probably got a better contract than they did going somewhere else because they’re not title winners.
“I just think if you go down that road, it’ll be never-ending, and it could be hell. It’s impossible.”
Manchester City have consistently denied any wrongdoing, with its appeal set to be considered by a separate Appeal Board under Premier League rules
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PAJohnson’s comments come ahead of a blockbuster clash between Liverpool and City, which will be overshadowed by the scandal during the international break.
Both sides go into the game undefeated in the league, with City winning five from five and sitting in first.
The two sides meet on Sunday at Anfield with kick-off scheduled for 4:30pm.
