Liverpool will play the national anthem before their game against Brentford on Saturday, despite saying they know some fans “have strong views on it”.
The club’s supporters booed ‘Abide With Me’ and ‘God Save the Queen’ before last season’s FA Cup final. The national anthem is being played at top-flight matches on Saturday to mark the coronation of King Charles III.
Liverpool said it would be played “in recognition of the Premier League’s request to mark the coronation”.
The club added: “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.”
The Premier League strongly advised clubs across this weekend’s matches to mark the coronation in some way and suggested some options, with the national anthem being one—although there was no mandate to do so.
The other games in the top flight on Saturday see Bournemouth host Chelsea, Manchester City play Leeds United, Tottenham Hotspur face Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers host Aston Villa.
Speaking about the booing of the national anthem at last season’s FA Cup final at Wembley, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said it was “not something I enjoyed”.
He added: “It’s always best to ask the question - why does this happen? They wouldn’t do it without a reason.”
In a news conference on Friday, Klopp said: “The club’s position is my position. This is definitely a subject I can’t have a proper opinion about because I am from Germany and we don’t have a king or a queen.
“I’m pretty sure a lot of people in this country will enjoy the coronation, some will maybe not be interested and some will not like it. That’s all I can say about it.”
