City-backed career related to liquidity? (5)
I believe the answer is:
runny
'related to liquidity?' is the definition.
(runny like a liquid)
'city-backed career' is the wordplay.
'city' becomes 'ny' (short for New York).
'backed' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (some letters go at the back of others).
'career' becomes 'run' (career can mean to run or move out of control).
'ny' put after 'run' is 'RUNNY'.
(Other definitions for runny that I've seen before include "(Exuding) liquid" , "Not set, inclined to spread" , "Liquefied" , "too much liquid" , "Not viscous" .)