LONDON: Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola said the lack of clarity over Manchester City's future after the club was found guilty of multiple breaches of financial rules was causing uncertainty throughout the Premier League.
City remain adamant they have done no wrong and have appealed against the findings of an independent commission, which were announced last week.
The Premier League leaders potentially face a severe points deduction that could put their place in the English top flight at risk.
Iraola believes the world's richest league is caught in limbo until there is a definitive outcome.
"I think the worst thing probably is the uncertainty, that no one knows what's going to happen," the Spaniard said ahead of City's first outing since the verdict at Liverpool today.
"But we have to focus on Liverpool -- be the best club we can be, the best team we can be and that's my challenge."
Iraola only joined the Reds in June but is looking forward to a red-hot atmosphere at Anfield.
"The atmosphere is going to be big, especially at Anfield," he said.
"We want to give also our supporters reasons to be with us. When they see the team they want to see on the pitch, we can create an even better atmosphere and we will work for that."
Liverpool are still unbeaten under Iraola, but three draws in their opening five league games means they start the weekend six points off the top.
Iraola's options up front are limited after Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo were injured on international duty.
"As a club manager, you are always waiting until the game ends [hoping] the doctor doesn't call you, doesn't give you bad news, but in this case we've been unlucky with Alex and Cody, both of them," he said.
"They are injured and they are not going to be involved on Sunday [today]."
Their absence could open the door for 21-year-old Wales forward Lewis Koumas to lead the attack against City.
"Koumas has our trust," Iraola said. "I don't think it's a big surprise, I always liked the player and he has already shown in important minutes that he is ready to go and we have also other players who can go in those positions."
City top the table as the only team with a 100 percent record after five games, while Liverpool are six points behind them in sixth, with two wins and three draws.
Protecting the Whistleblower
Computer hacker Rui Pinto, the man behind the Football Leaks website which helped trigger the Premier League probe into Manchester City's finances, will remain under police protection, Portuguese authorities confirmed on Friday.
Protection measures which were due to end yesterday will now remain in effect pending a new decision, the Justice Ministry said in a statement.
A previous resolution was nullified because Pinto had not been "duly informed of the reasons for the decision" and had not had the opportunity to challenge it, the statement added.
Pinto's lawyers last week denounced irregularities in the proceedings, highlighting the real threats facing their client, who was assaulted in Lisbon last April.
The 37-year-old said he had to move to a secret location "due to the multiple death threats" he had received.
Pinto has been a protected witness since 2020 after agreeing to grant Portuguese authorities access to millions of files gathered before his arrest.
Arrested in Hungary where he was living in January 2019 and extradited to his home country Portugal, Pinto spent more than a year in pre-trial detention before agreeing to cooperate with authorities. AFP/REUTERS