Why Rayan Cherki Was Wearing a Liverpool Jersey during the FA Cup Clash?

The FA Cup Quarter Final Clash between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield Stadium ended in a 4–0 scoreline, but the flow of the game told a more nuanced story, with Manchester City enjoying long spells of control despite the result.

Manchester City were sharp in possession and managed to dictate phases of play, particularly through midfield, creating multiple openings and maintaining territorial dominance for large parts of the contest. Manchester City controlled key phases of the match, showing efficiency in front of goal and discipline across the pitch. Their attacking movements and ability to capitalise on chances proved decisive, as they built a comfortable lead and maintained control throughout the contest. Liverpool, meanwhile, struggled to respond effectively, with the scoreline reflecting City’s superiority on the night.

Why was Rayan Cherki wearing a Liverpool jersey during the FA Cup match?

Rayan Cherki, who featured for 71 minutes for Manchester City in the fixture, was substituted during the game by Tijjani Reijnders. Following his substitution, he exchanged shirts with his France striker Hugo Ekitike. The exchange took place shortly after Cherki was substituted, as he made his way toward the bench area. Hugo Ekitike, who was also involved in the match, approached him near the touchline, and the two briefly interacted before swapping jerseys. Such exchanges are common between international teammates and reflect mutual respect between players who share dressing rooms at the national level.

However, unlike the usual post-match setting, the swap occurred while the game was still in progress, and Rayan Cherki was seen wearing the Liverpool jersey while seated on the bench, which quickly drew attention given the ongoing match and the fixture context. The Manchester City staff immediately intervened and instructed him to remove the shirt. The French forward responded promptly, taking it off and raising his hand in an apologetic gesture.

While shirt swaps are a common part of football culture, they are typically carried out after the final whistle. Wearing an opposition jersey during a match can be seen as a breach of professional etiquette, particularly when the player is still part of the matchday squad. Despite the attention it generated, the incident appeared to be an innocent oversight rather than a deliberate act. Cherki’s immediate response ensured that the situation was quickly resolved without further issue.