"I'm pretty sure a lot of people in this country will enjoy the coronation. Some will maybe not really be interested and some will not like it.”
Jurgen Klopp provided a rather diplomatic answer when asked about Liverpool’s decision to play the national anthem before their home clash with Brentford to commemorate the coronation of King Charles III.
Having been ‘strongly advised’ to play ‘God Save The King’ by the Premier League, with all home sides doing as such this weekend, the club believed they had been put in an impossible situation. Klopp would insist the club’s stance is his stance, reminding onlookers that as a German he has no strong opinion on such matters.
LIVE MATCH UPDATES: Liverpool vs Brentford final score, goals and reaction
READ MORE: Premier League should take blame for inevitable national anthem booing
But he is well-aware of it’s a different story when it comes to Reds supporters with their feelings against the establishment, and reasoning why, abundantly clear. ‘You can stick your coronation up your arse!” Anfield chanted during Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over Fulham.
The only royalty they are interested in is ‘King Kenny’ and Liverpool’s ‘Egyptian King’, Mohamed Salah. Considering them the ‘not like it’ category would be an understatement.
As soon as the Premier League’s wish for the national anthem to be played became public knowledge, eyes were on Liverpool Football Club and how they would respond. Whether they would side with their fanbase, who had previously booed when the national anthem was played before last season’s FA Cup final, or, not wishing to disrespect anyone, bow down to the authorities’ request despite the fierce opposition from supporters.
Once their decision was made, albeit forced and reluctantly, the would-be response from Reds fans was inevitable. As a result, the build-up to Saturday’s clash with the Bees became just a countdown to the obvious Liverpool boos that would follow. In turn, as hundreds of thousands of people descended upon London prior to the coronation, the knives had long since been sharpened.
For those celebrating in the capital and across the globe, Saturday was coronation day. But for the 54,000 fans inside Anfield, Brentford’s travelling support aside, it was nothing more than another Liverpool match day as Klopp’s men looked to maintain their European qualification hopes.
For Kopites, this was the highlight of their day. And as the players came out to warm up and Anfield started to fill up, there was no reason to suspect any different. A banner in tribute of ‘The King’, Kenny Dalglish, in the centre of the Kop, carried greater meaning perhaps but nothing out of the ordinary.
But then the teams came out to a louder roar then you would normally expect for such an occasion, with the Kop making sure to chant ‘Fields of Anfield Road’, where once they watched King Kenny play, before serenading Mo Salah, their Egyptian King.
Stadium announcer George Sephton declared that the national anthem would be played, but in truth, his message could not be heard. No sooner had he said the words ‘national anthem’ and the deafening boos and whistles began.
With the anthem not yet underway, this was soon replaced by chants of ‘Liverpool, Liverpool!’ before the sound of that familiar drum-roll started up the boos and whistles once again.
‘You can shove your Royal Family up your a***!’ read one banner on the Kop as Anfield made its feelings felt, having been let down by the establishment one time too many over the years.
Brentford fans would sing ‘God Save The King’, not that you could hear them as Kopites drowned out the national anthem from start to finish. The same as the Bees’ travelling support’s own whistles could barely be heard once ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ next rang out around Anfield.
The first chants of ‘F**k the Tories!’ followed inside the opening minute, before the Kop next started chanting, ‘Dal-glish!’ Once Salah opened the scoring in the 13th minute, Liverpool’s own king had been crowned as he hit the 30-goal mark for the third season in a row, while moving level with Steven Gerrard as the club’s fifth all-time leading goalscorer on 186 goals. This is Anfield royalty.
As Liverpool opened the scoring against Brentford, the backlash across the nation was only just getting underway, not that Kopites cared one jolt. This wasn’t about supporting the Royal Family, this was about standing with their city and their people. That is something they can be proud of.
Liverpool has a voice, as they have often had to fight for over the years. On coronation day, at Anfield, it was heard.
READ MORE:
Liverpool told they have found 'high value' midfielder by Premier League boss
Jurgen Klopp makes squad 'change' admission ahead of busy summer at Liverpool
Liverpool hero broke player's jaw and conquered Rome before biggest mistake
Liverpool are about to lose transfer that made Lionel Messi and Neymar angry
Liverpool could have signed Alexis Mac Allister for free amid transfer release clause question
