The Italian goalkeeper had been part of a City side subjected to sustained hostility throughout the afternoon. It was the club’s first match since an independent commission found it guilty of 114 breaches of Premier League financial rules, a verdict Manchester City have disputed and are appealing.
Liverpool supporters booed the visitors during their warm-up and continued to jeer them during the match. With Manchester City leading by three goals late on, chants accusing the players of cheating were heard around Anfield.
Donnarumma, 27, appeared frustrated as he left the pitch. Footage circulating on social media showed the former Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper turning back towards a supporter and seemingly attempting to confront the fan.
A member of staff then intervened and guided him down the tunnel, apparently keen to prevent the exchange from escalating. The incident took place amid a febrile atmosphere, with City players having faced insults and banners from sections of the home support.
The hostility was not confined to Donnarumma. City’s players were jeered from the moment they emerged to warm up, and supporters continued to make their feelings clear after the final whistle. The chants reflected anger over the financial-rule verdict and the lack of any immediate sporting sanction.
Manchester City have denied wrongdoing and are challenging the commission’s findings. The case remains a major source of tension between the club and rival supporters, particularly those who believe alleged financial breaches affected the Premier League title race over several seasons.
On the pitch, City delivered a convincing performance to claim all three points. Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki scored in a win that also saw Liverpool reduced to ten men after Ryan Gravenberch was sent off.
City’s players celebrated in front of their travelling support at the end of the match, while the inflatable bananas brought by some away fans offered a contrasting image to the hostility inside the ground.
Donnarumma’s reaction was one of the more visible flashpoints in a match shaped as much by the off-field controversy as the result. The footage showed staff moving him away before the confrontation could develop further.