Liverpool have confirmed that the national anthem will be played before their game against Brentford at Anfield on Saturday to mark King Charles’s coronation, raising the possibility of fans booing “God Save the King”.
The Premier League “strongly suggested” that all 10 clubs playing at home this weekend play the anthem prior to kick-off, proposed a “number of activities” they could adopt to mark the occasion and provided pictures of the King and Queen Consort to be displayed on big screens.
Eyes will be on Anfield to see how Liverpool fans respond, given they have previously booed the anthem ahead of matches including before the 2021-22 FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley last May.
Although the Premier League did not make playing “God Save The King” a mandatory requirement, it has been reported that Liverpool felt they were put in an impossible position to do so. In a statement, the club stressed that how fans respond to it is a “personal choice”.
The statement read: “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.”
Liverpool’s supporters’ antipathy towards the monarchy stems from dislike and distrust of the establishment in the UK for exacerbating unemployment and poverty in the area over decades.
The booing of the national anthem became commonplace in the 1980s after Conservative chancellor Geoffrey Howe encouraged prime minister Margaret Thatcher to consider a “managed decline” of the city in the aftermath of the Toxteth riots in 1981.
At the time, unemployment in the UK was at its highest point in half a century with the economy in recession with Merseyside one of the regions worst affected after suffering an industrial decline.
Animosity towards the establishment increased following the police’s attempted cover-up of its failings during the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 in which 97 supporters unlawfully lost their lives.
The police wrongly blamed “drunken Liverpool fans” for causing the disaster – a lie perpetuated by Thatcher’s government and sections of the media.
Liverpool will also mark Eurovision, which is being held in the city from 9-13 May and the 20th anniversary of its charitable foundation community day on Saturday.
The club released its new home kit for the 2023-24 campaign prior to commenting publicly about the coronation.
Comment: Liverpool fans will boo the national anthem and it will be the Premier League’s fault
By Tony Evans
Liverpool have been left in an invidious position by the Premier League. The English top flight contacted clubs holding a home fixture this weekend to “strongly suggest” that they play the national anthem and display a picture of the King and Queen Consort on big screens before their matches.
Relations between the city and the establishment grew worse in the 1980s. Margaret Thatcher’s government considered a “managed decline” of the region — effectively starving people out of the area.
To even discuss that at cabinet level is mind boggling. Those of us who have campaigned for 34 years in an attempt to get justice and accountability for the 97 unlawful killings at Hillsborough firmly believe that the cover-up and the false accusations against supporters would not have happened if the team involved had originated in any other city in England.
A negative response to “God Save The King” is inevitable. As is the round of Hillsborough abuse and denial that accompanies every show of disrespect for the anthem.
Not every Liverpool fan will boo. Anfield attracts royalists, Tories and people who are ambivalent about the monarchy. Yet the Premier League know that the majority inside the ground will make their voices heard in protest. Nothing the club can do will stop it.
Except for one thing. Ignoring the coronation. Liverpool cannot do that. They are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. The Premier League has made a right royal mess of this.
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