Liverpool fans broke Anfield tradition to boo Jordan Pickford

Liverpool fans broke their long tradition of clapping the opposition goalkeeper in the Merseyside derby on Saturday afternoon.

Jurgen Klopp’s side dispatched their city rivals, Everton 2-0 on Saturday with Mohamed Salah scoring two goals late on.

Their task was made a lot easier when Ashley Young was sent off for two yellow cards in the first half after a late tackle on Luis Diaz.

As the teams came out for the second period, Liverpool fans broke tradition by not clapping for Jordan Pickford as he ran towards the Kop.

This is an age-old tradition in Anfield that dates back to the sixties and is a sign of respect for the opposition number one.

They reportedly refused to clap for him and began to boo because Pickford himself didn’t clap as he ran towards the goal.

Football statistician, Dave Ball spoke to This is Anfield about the tradition.

“I always remember the game after England had won the World Cup in 1966, Liverpool played Everton in the Charity Shield and then the first game here (at Anfield) was in the league against Leicester City.” he said.

“Gordon Banks was in the Leicester goal, and I think Shankly had sent him out early doors to take the cheers from the Kop and everything. But when he came out to face Liverpool, the Kop went absolutely ballistic. That was the first time I had ever seen the Kop react the way they did.

“Some people say it did happen in the ’50s and ’60s, but I’ve spoken to people and they don’t really remember, but I certainly remember it was the Gordon Banks one. He was a great person on Merseyside, he was loved by the Kopites.”