The build-up to Liverpool vs Manchester City is always intense, but this time, the drama has gone far beyond team news, tactics, and form. Just days before the huge Premier League clash at Anfield, bookmakers Paddy Power made a bold and controversial decision that has shocked fans across England. It is a move that has already sparked anger, laughter, fear, celebration, and endless debate, and many believe it could even affect the title race itself.
Liverpool are preparing to welcome Manchester City to Anfield on Sunday afternoon in what many see as a defining match for both clubs’ seasons. The rivalry between the two sides has grown into one of the biggest in modern English football. Every meeting feels like more than just three points. It feels like a statement.
For Liverpool, the match carries extra meaning. Earlier in the season, they were humbled 3-0 by City at the Etihad Stadium. That defeat still hurts. A win at Anfield would not only offer revenge, but also keep Liverpool firmly in the hunt for a Champions League place. With Chelsea and Manchester United both winning on Saturday, the pressure is on. Liverpool cannot afford to slip.
For Manchester City, the situation is just as serious. Arsenal’s comfortable win over Sunderland extended their lead at the top of the table to nine points. City, who have dominated English football for years, suddenly find themselves chasing. Any dropped points now could be fatal to their title hopes. They travel to Anfield knowing that only a win will truly keep them alive in the race.
But while fans were busy arguing about line-ups, injuries, and tactics, Paddy Power stepped in and stole the headlines.
Before a single ball had been kicked at Anfield, the bookmakers made a stunning announcement. Paddy Power confirmed they were paying out all bets on Arsenal to win the Premier League. Not at the end of the season. Not after the title was secured. But now. With months of football still to be played.
The announcement sent shockwaves through social media.
Paddy Power confirmed the decision shortly after Arsenal’s win over Sunderland. Taking to X, the bookmakers wrote that Arsenal’s nine-point lead was enough for them. They would treat the title race as finished and pay out all bets backing the Gunners to lift the trophy.
Their message was cheeky, as always. They joked that nothing could possibly go wrong now, clearly aware of the reaction it would cause. But behind the humour was a serious decision. Paddy Power were putting their money where their mouth was.
This was not the first time they had done something like this.
Last season, Paddy Power famously paid out early on Liverpool to win the Premier League. That decision came in late February, with 12 games still to play. At the time, Liverpool were flying, and the bookies decided the title race was over. Many fans happily cashed out and celebrated early.
This time, however, the decision came even earlier in the season. And the reaction was far more mixed.
Arsenal fans were split right down the middle. Some were delighted. Seeing their bets paid out early felt like validation. It felt like recognition that Arsenal had truly arrived as champions. Fans shared screenshots of winning bet slips, with some pocketing hundreds of pounds instantly. For them, it was a moment of joy and pride.
But many other Arsenal supporters were far from happy.
Almost immediately, fears of a curse spread across social media. Football fans are superstitious by nature, and Paddy Power’s history only made things worse. Arsenal fans begged the bookmakers not to do it. They worried that this was tempting fate. That by declaring Arsenal champions too early, the football gods would strike back.
One Arsenal fan replied in panic, saying they would never win the league now because of this jinx. Another pointed out just how much football was still left to play. They reminded everyone that if Manchester City beat Liverpool, the gap would be reduced to six points. They also highlighted Arsenal’s difficult upcoming fixtures, including a trip to the Etihad, a derby away to Tottenham, and a tough home match against Chelsea in a short space of time.
In other words, nothing was settled.
Rival fans, of course, could not resist joining in.
Manchester United supporters joked that Arsenal would soon be embarrassed when United went on an impossible winning run to steal the title on the final day. Others laughed at the idea that City were being written off, knowing Pep Guardiola’s side have made miracles happen before.
Liverpool fans watched from the sidelines, knowing their own match against City suddenly felt even bigger. If City won at Anfield, the title race would be blown wide open again. Paddy Power’s decision would instantly look foolish. And Liverpool would once again be playing a key role in shaping the destiny of the league.
The timing of the announcement could not have been more dramatic.
Liverpool vs Manchester City is already one of the most emotionally charged fixtures in English football. Add a nine-point title gap, Arsenal’s momentum, and a bookmaker effectively declaring the champions early, and the stakes rise even higher.
Some believe this decision could even affect players psychologically. Arsenal players may feel extra pressure, knowing the world expects them to finish the job. Manchester City players may feel disrespected, written off, and more motivated than ever. Liverpool players may see this as a chance to shake the entire league.
History also plays a big role in the fear surrounding Paddy Power’s announcement.
Earlier this season, the same bookmakers paid out early on Celtic to win the Scottish Premiership in August. At the time, Celtic looked unstoppable. The league appeared over before it had even started. But football had other plans. Celtic collapsed. Results went against them. Momentum vanished. They now sit third in the table, six points behind leaders Hearts.
That example alone has Arsenal fans feeling nervous.
Football is unpredictable. Injuries happen. Form changes. One bad run can destroy months of hard work. Arsenal know this better than anyone. In recent seasons, they have come close to glory only to fall short late on. That is why many fans believe celebrating early is dangerous.
Paddy Power, of course, are not worried. From a business point of view, early payouts are clever. They generate publicity. They create headlines. They attract new customers. And they often pay off in the long run. Even if Arsenal somehow fail to win the league, the buzz and attention are already worth it.
But football is not played on spreadsheets. It is played on grass, under pressure, in front of millions.
As Liverpool prepare to face Manchester City, this backdrop adds another layer of tension. For City, this match is about pride, belief, and survival. Lose at Anfield, and the title may truly slip away. Win, and suddenly the gap closes, doubt creeps in, and Arsenal start to feel the heat.
For Liverpool, it is about revenge, momentum, and relevance. A win keeps their season alive in every sense. It hurts City. It helps Arsenal’s rivals. And it reminds everyone that Anfield is still one of the hardest places to go in world football.
The bookmakers may believe the title race is done. But players, managers, and fans know better.
Pep Guardiola will not accept surrender. He has built his reputation on chasing down leads and defying expectations. Arne Slot, on the other hand, will see this as an opportunity to announce Liverpool’s authority in the new era. Arsenal, watching nervously, will hope the chaos does not reach them.
In the end, Paddy Power’s decision may be remembered as genius or as arrogance. It may age beautifully or horribly. But one thing is certain. It has poured fuel on an already raging fire.
The Premier League season is far from over. The drama is only just beginning. And with Liverpool vs Manchester City next on the calendar, everything feels possible again.
