Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard believes Manchester City should face severe punishment if the club is found guilty of the financial rule breaches alleged against them—including potentially being stripped of their titles.

Speaking on The Overlap podcast, Gerrard was asked what punishment he believed Manchester City should receive. The former England midfielder made his position clear, arguing that if City are found guilty, they should be made to face consequences comparable to the competitive impact their alleged breaches had on other clubs.

Gerrard Calls for a Long-Term Punishment

Gerrard believes any punishment should have a lasting impact, suggesting both a transfer ban and a lengthy points deduction.

“It’s my personal opinion. I’m not saying it’s the right opinion, but that’s how I feel. I think there should be a transfer ban and points deducted for a long period of time. They have made everyone suffer for the last nine or 10 years, so they should suffer as well.”

However, Gerrard stressed that he has no personal issue with City’s players and does not believe individual players should be asked to return their medals or memorabilia.

“I have no personal animosity because they are all outstanding players. They enjoyed the moments and they deserved the trophies.”

‘They Should Be Stripped of Their Titles’

Gerrard then went further, arguing that City’s previous titles should also be considered if the club is found guilty.

“But they should be stripped of their titles. There needs to be a precedent. Put an asterisk or something next to their achievements in the past, so whether the titles are taken away or not almost becomes irrelevant. Because once that mark is there, everyone will know why that success happened.”

The former Liverpool captain also raised concerns about the wider consequences of relegating City to the Championship.

“If they are forced to go down, it would be unfair on the Championship teams because they would then become one of the three teams going back up. That takes a place away from an EFL team.”

City Deny the Allegations

Manchester City face more than 100 alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations relating to the period between 2009 and 2018.

Potential sanctions have been widely discussed, ranging from points deductions to relegation and other serious sporting penalties. City have denied the allegations and continue to contest the case.

Gerrard left Liverpool in 2015 after spending 26 years at the club, including his time in the academy. During his final years at Anfield, he captained Liverpool to a second-place Premier League finish in the 2013-14 season, when Manchester City won the title.

For Gerrard, therefore, the issue goes beyond his personal connection with Liverpool. His message is straightforward: if Manchester City are found guilty, their past titles should also be subject to punishment.