Enzo Maresca Praises Manchester City's Focus Ahead of Liverpool Clash as Erling Haaland Calls for Unity

Enzo Maresca insists Manchester City are embracing the challenge of returning to Premier League action at Liverpool on Sunday, with the team's perfect start providing a welcome distraction from the storm surrounding their landmark financial case. City travel to Anfield with five wins from five league matches and top the table, heading into their first game since an independent commission found them guilty of more than 100 breaches of the Premier League's financial rules over a nine-year period.

The club have lodged an appeal against the verdict and continue to maintain their innocence, arguing that the commission's decision contains clear material errors and that City have evidence supporting their position. For Enzo Maresca, however, the focus inside his dressing room is firmly on what City can control. “Personally I’m very calm to be honest. The club has been quite clear. We trust completely the club,” Enzo Maresca told City's in-house media on Thursday.

“The feeling is fantastic, to be honest. The players are excited for the next two games, but especially they are excited because in this moment, we are top of the league, so the players are just focused on that,” he added, noting that the squad prepares to host Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday. “They know that what we can control is the football side. They know they are professionals. They know that the noise is there, but they don't care too much about the noise.”

Enzo Maresca's sentiments were echoed by star striker Erling Haaland. The Norwegian, fresh from scoring three times in four Uefa Nations League matches during the international break, has called on City fans to show their support at Anfield. “We have to stick together. We have to stay with each other, and we have to stay positive,” Erling Haaland said.

“No matter what happens in life, we always have to have a smile. We have to stay positive, look ahead and try to win football games and try to enjoy the situation and win the game. We have to stick together, and we have to spread the love to each other. So yeah, stick together, enjoy the ride and smile.”

Anfield has long been one of the most intimidating venues in English football, and City's visit comes at a particularly charged moment, with the verdict likely to dominate the atmosphere. City's players, though, have so far shown little sign of allowing the uncertainty away from the pitch to affect their football, sitting three points clear of defending champions Arsenal. Liverpool, by contrast, have endured a less convincing opening to their title defence, winning twice and drawing three times in their first five matches under Andoni Iraola's side, and will look to halt City's perfect start this Sunday.