Ten Liverpool players face a ban from touching the revered ‘This is Anfield’ sign, a directive imposed by manager Jürgen Klopp.
Anfield Stadium holds a special place in football lore, celebrated for its rich history and the electric atmosphere fostered by Liverpool’s devoted fan base.
While the public may not witness it, an iconic ritual takes place behind the scenes. The ‘This is Anfield’ sign, positioned at the tunnel’s exit, serves as the last sight for players before stepping onto the pitch.
It’s a tradition for Liverpool stars to touch the sign, a custom dating back to its installation by legendary manager Bill Shankly 50 years ago. Shankly famously remarked, “It’s there to remind our lads who they’re playing for and to remind the opposition who they’re playing against!”
However, Jurgen Klopp halted this tradition in 2016, early in his tenure as Liverpool manager, stating, “I’ve told my players not to touch the ‘This Is Anfield’ sign until they win something! It’s a sign of respect. I touched it when I was manager of Borussia Dortmund, but we lost 4-0.”
Liverpool’s trophy drought since their 2022 FA Cup victory over Chelsea has left ten players in Klopp’s squad ineligible to partake in the pre-game ritual.
Darwin Núñez, Cody Gakpo, Stefan Bajcetic, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch, Ben Doak, Jarell Quansah, and Conor Bradley are all prohibited from touching the famed sign.
These players either joined the club after the last trophy win or rose through the academy ranks during the dry spell. Their ban will stand until Liverpool’s upcoming Carabao Cup final clash against Chelsea on February 25, offering them the opportunity to end the prohibition and perhaps usher in a new era of triumph at Anfield.
