Schmeichel suggests four Man City punishments but opposes relegation

Peter Schmeichel has called on the Premier League to keep Manchester City in the top flight but hit them with a four-part punishment. Speaking on Viaplay after City's 3-0 win at Liverpool, the former goalkeeper suggested the club start each of the next five seasons on -25 points, receive a five-year transfer ban, be fined heavily, and have their owners forced to sell. According to the Mirror, an independent panel found City guilty of all financial charges in late September, but the club maintain they are innocent.

Schmeichel, 62, argued the measures would act as a reminder to other clubs that cheating carries serious consequences. He also said anyone involved should be banned from operating in football, and that the ownership is not fit to run the club or any club in England. On whether City's titles should be stripped, he said he did not think it mattered either way.

City lodged an appeal against the verdict earlier this month, with a decision expected in January. A separate sanctions hearing is already underway, meaning the club could discover its punishment before the appeal concludes. The most severe options reported include stripping titles and immediate expulsion from the Premier League.

Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam agreed that City must be punished but disagreed with Schmeichel on the titles. He said they should be stripped because they were won while cheating, and stressed the importance of the Premier League setting an example so it never happens again.

On the pitch, City returned from the international break with an impressive 3-0 win at a hostile Anfield. Second-half goals from Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki sealed the victory, with the game shifting after Ryan Gravenberch's red card just after the hour. Elliot Anderson was arguably City's best player, while Ruben Dias and Gianluigi Donnarumma also impressed.

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville admitted he found it difficult to praise City while the case remains unresolved, noting the points could count for nothing by the season's end. He said that if the guilty verdicts are confirmed in January or February, City would not be in their current position and a huge cloud would hang over the league.