The British national anthem has been met with resounding boos at Anfield, with Liverpool fans drowning out the music with heckles before their fixture against Brentford hours after King Charles’s coronation.
Liverpool supporters could also be heard chanting “Liverpool, Liverpool” in what has become somewhat of a tradition whenever the national anthem is played.
The club said it was asked to play God Save the King by the Premier League to mark the king’s coronation, despite strong opposition.
Liverpool said how spectators chose to react to the anthem was a personal choice, while the team’s manager, Jürgen Klopp, said he did not have an opinion on the subject.
The Daily Mirror’s northern football correspondent, David Maddock, tweeted that the booing coming from around “the entire ground” was so loud he did not even know the anthem had started.
Oh, and a ps. Didn't even know the anthem had started, so loud was the booing here at Anfield - and the city of Liverpool can be proud of the fans, and proud of their motivation.....!
— David Maddock (@MaddockMirror) May 6, 2023
When the team played Fulham on Wednesday, fans could be heard chanting “You can stick your coronation up your arse.” They also booed Prince William before the FA Cup final last year when the national anthem was played.
In a statement before the game, the club said: “Just over a week ago, the Premier League contacted all home clubs and strongly suggested to mark this historic occasion across home matches this weekend and provided a list of activity for clubs to get involved in.
“Before kick-off and in recognition of the Premier League’s request to mark the coronation, players and officials will congregate around the centre circle when the national anthem will be played. It is, of course, a personal choice how those at Anfield on Saturday mark this occasion and we know some supporters have strong views on it.”
Klopp added: “The club’s position is my position. I have said a couple of times this is definitely a subject I cannot have a proper opinion about.
“I’m from Germany, we don’t have a king or a queen. It is a nice thing to watch, all the weddings are massive in Germany. I’m pretty sure a lot of people in this country will enjoy the coronation, some will not really be interested and some will not like it. That’s over the whole country and that’s all I can say about it.”
Liverpool fans have been booing the national anthem since the 1980s, beginning as a protest against the establishment, particularly during then prime minister Margaret Thatcher’s managed decline of the city, and now representing dissatisfaction with the condition of the country.
