“Anything but Liverpool”. The phrase is commonly heard in conversations among English club supporters. Failed on winning the Premier League for almost 30 years, Liverpool was often bullied by the glory hunters.
Call them, Manchester United fans. They have a sarcastic tale that was always told proudly: “Since the last time Liverpool won the Premier League, Peter Schmeichel could be a champion many times, then had children, the child then grew up, so his son became a Premier League champion too.”
So, what actually makes Liverpool was so much hated by fans?
There is no exact reason. The point is that Liverpool until now was noted as a team that stands twice on top of the league at Christmas, but could not maintain it until the season finished. These moments occurred in the 2008/09 and 2013/14 seasons. Manchester United fans also had an additional mockery.
Some said that people hated the Liverpool fans who were stubborn. Before Manchester United succeeded with Sir Alex Ferguson, Liverpool could be claimed as the best team in Britain. However, since the acquisition of the league winner had been overtaken by Manchester United, is it still appropriate for Liverpool supporters to claim their team as the best one?
The most important example can be seen during the 2013/14 winner race. At that time, Brendan Rodgers took Liverpool to the point where it was closest to the top, but it collapsed in April. The cause was none other than the defeat of Chelsea, which was very likely due to Steven Gerrard’s slip in the first round. Gerrard was bullied, and Liverpool suffered even more.
The resentment toward Liverpool was also said to have originated from media coverage which often put Liverpool as a media darling. There would never be bad news about Liverpool because of the many former players who have become pundits, such as Jamie Carragher, Steven McManaman, Michael Owen, and Jamie Redknapp.
On the other hand, Four Four Two had also launched nine reasons why people hated Liverpool. The nine reasons are:
- Liverpool supporters are sunk by the past. Well, they often boast of past achievements that have never been repeated until now.
- Denying today’s reality. Well, for such a team whose Premier League trophies are fewer than Blackburn Rovers and Leicester City, how come they still call themselves as a big club?
- The team is always getting luck. They had won the 2005 Champions League through a cheating adventure involving Luis Garcia’s ghost goal, as well as the misfortune happened to Milan in the final round.
- Luis Suarez. Everyone hated the attacker who was being racist to Patrice Evra and biting Branislav Ivanovic’s arm.
- Considering all the big clubs as rivals. Liverpool fans were always considered the best teams in England such as Everton, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester City as the worse teams.
- Foreign owner. If City and Chelsea succeeded in the Premier League champions after owned by foreigners, Liverpool twice sold themselves to Americans but was only able to win the FA Cup.
- Steven Gerrard. For Liverpool fans, Gerrard is a prophet, but when he put off his red uniform, Gerrard becomes nobody. He could not transmit his good appearance to the England national team.
- A Tourist club. Many Liverpool supporters are not from Liverpool itself. More than 100,000 “fans” visit Anfield each year. The number of the fans make them lined up as tourist clubs.
- A Celebrity club. Except for Daniel Craig and Damian Lewis, Liverpool claimed to get a lot of support from celebrities, which was getting doubted. From Dr. Dre, Brad Pitt, until Samuel L. Jackson had never really declared himself as a Liverpool fan…
But, if Liverpool can win the Premier League this season, will they still be hated?
