‘Thank God we have freedom of speech’: Jurgen Klopp claims ‘everyone knew’ the Liverpool fans would captivate the anthem because they are ‘not happy with how the club and the city were treated’
- Liverpool fans belted out the national anthem ahead of their game with Brentford
- The national anthem was played on the occasion of the coronation of the King and Queen Consort
- Jurgen Klopp said everyone ‘knew’ the fans would boo and it was ‘fine’
Jurgen Klopp says ‘everyone knew’ the Liverpool fans would be captivating that anthem ahead of their match with Brentford, saying it was ‘fine’ as there were no ‘chants’.
The anthem was played at Anfield on Saturday afternoon ahead of their Premier League match to mark the coronation of King Charles III and the Queen Consort earlier in the day.
However, the supporters in the stadium decided to sound the national anthem as the two teams lined up around the center circle. The booing began immediately after the PA announcer confirmed that the national anthem would be played before kickoff.
Klopp congratulated the King in his post-match interview and explained why the Liverpool fans decided to rant. He said it was because ‘in the past they weren’t always happy with the way Liverpool, the club and the city were treated’.
After Saturday afternoon’s game, which ended 1-0 against Liverpool, Klopp said: “First of all, today was a big day for England and I have a lot of respect for that.
Jürgen Klopp says ‘everyone knew’ that Liverpool fans would jeer that anthem
The Liverpool players lined up around the center circle ahead of kick-off against Brentford
The national anthem was played on the occasion of the coronation of the king and the queen’s consort
Liverpool fans drowned out God Save the King when it was played ahead of their match
“Everyone wants to be happy and celebrate. Not everything is better than in the past, but thank God we have freedom of speech and freedom of speech.
“It was clear that something like this would happen, everyone knew it. That’s fine, nothing else happened, there was no singing.
“People showed, I don’t know exactly what it was, but they weren’t always happy with the way Liverpool, the club and the city were treated in the past. That is it.
“Today is for all the other people who loved the day, I’m not sure you’re congratulating the king, but I’m saying it.” For the people who really celebrate, don’t think about other things.
“People who aren’t happy about it say it, and that’s it. I think it was absolutely okay.’
Liverpool reluctantly played the televised anthem ahead of the match after the Premier League’s ‘highly recommended’ clubs hosting matches this weekend mark the coronation.
However, Liverpool fans have booed the anthem in recent years. Some even chanted ‘you can put your coronation in your a**e’ during last week’s game against Fulham.
Liverpool supporters observed a minute’s silence for Queen Elizabeth II after her death last September. But the anthem had been jeered by some of their fans ahead of last season’s FA Cup final at Wembley.