Mark Keane admitted he was very confused after being booed by Liverpool fans throughout the game at Anfield, recalling that he had nearly joined the "Reds" last summer.
On 9 Feb 2026 GMT+7, Mark Keane, the English international defender for Manchester City, admitted feeling puzzled by the reaction of Liverpool fans who booed him throughout the Premier League match at Anfield, which the "Sky Blues" won 2-1.
The 25-year-old defender had just transferred from Crystal Palace to Manchester City in January, after being heavily linked with Liverpool last summer. He even passed a medical before the deal collapsed at the last minute when Palace withdrew from negotiations.
Due to defensive injury problems, Pep Guardiola moved quickly to sign Keane during the January transfer window, while Liverpool chose to wait until summer, allowing Manchester City to snap up the defender.
When Keane returned to Anfield wearing his new team's colors, some home fans expressed their displeasure by booing him throughout the match. However, Keane felt it was something not worth dwelling on.
Keane spoke to BeIN Sport, saying,
"It was a great atmosphere. I think I anticipated what would happen today. It was an excellent football match, and it felt good to be on the winning side."
"I tried to focus only on my own game. The fans' feelings are their own, and that's okay. For me, the important thing was securing the three points, no matter the opponent."
"Liverpool is a great team and a big club, but three points are three points. It doesn't matter who you beat."
Meanwhile, Keane also spoke to the club's media, saying,
"I'm not sure why they booed me. I can't control the fans' thoughts. The only thing I feel grateful for is the Manchester City supporters who backed me throughout the game."