This post on the official Chelsea forum was so well argued that we felt it deserved to survive the usual daily cull….
“”Let me try and explain Liverpool Football Club and why they have so many representatives in the media, why they seem to get away with anything, why they are so distressed about Torres leaving and why this all leads to Chelsea being openly hated.
It’s quite simple and fascinating. Liverpool (the “club”, which is like any other football club, no more than an abstract concept built on concrete facts like past records, a stadium and supporters), the fans and many of their former players show the same behaviour traits displayed by followers of major religions. Once you begin to understand this and how it manifests itself, the anger dies down.
The closest comparison is with the Catholic Church and Islam. Both powerful religions obsessed with being big. Obsessed with the number of followers they have and obsessed with preserving their beliefs even when faced with evidence that disproves or just challenges their long-held assumptions.
Ritual, as we know, is a key element to religious behaviour. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is an incredible example of this. It is sung with religious fervour and is about surrendering individuality for the group. It is a defining moment for all Liverpool followers. No other football chant comes close. And they ask everyone who hears it to comment on it. They ask us to confirm that it is the loudest, most awe-inspiring, most spine-tingling, most religious moment we have ever experienced. And it is repeated word-for-word, note-for-note before every match as a gospel choir would sing in church. It does not behave like a football chant. There is no humour, no taunting the opposition, no jolly lads getting ready for 90 minutes of support and abuse. It is born-again, wide-eyed fervour.
Repetition is, of course, a central factor to the belief system and that is why every Liverpool follower (I choose this word above supporter), is primed to say exactly the same as every other Liverpool follower. There can be no deviation from the true path. Have you ever met a Liverpool follower who would dare to say that YNWA is a dreadful chant or that talking about “history” is a load of bunkum? This kind of deviation is not allowed and if someone dared to say such a thing then the simple answer would be that he is not a true follower because a true follower would not say such a thing.
History. What is this fascination with history? Football is really only about the present and memory. It is not about history. Most supporters know all about their team. They know the great players, cups won and disappointments along the way. But history? This is something that religions do in order to create a back story on which to build a myth. Liverpool has no more history than Crewe Alexandra or Queens Park Rangers, although it has certainly had more success. Success can be measured and although Liverpool’s followers like to quote their successes (and fear being surpassed), it is something that is ultimately too risky to build a belief system upon. In fact, this season Manchester United could become more “successful” than Liverpool in domestic league titles. For this reason Liverpool’s belief system is built on an abstract concept (history) rather than something that is scientifically provable (league titles). In fact, the more Liverpool stopped winning things, the more “history” became the currency for their beliefs.
Only recently have we heard commentators say on television that even with all Chelsea’s money and recent success, they will never have Liverpool’s history. Of course that is true because nobody knows what it means to have another club’s history and nobody could ever be anybody else anyway! This is a trick that religions have been using for thousands of years and why it is practically impossible to debate with “true believers”.
As an aside, an interesting comparison can be made between Liverpool and Everton and one that a football anthropologist would do well to study and report on in detail. The followers / supporters of these clubs display very different traits even though they may come from the same families, live in the same streets, go to the same schools. Everton play the theme tune from Z Cars when the team runs out and talk about the School of Science. They support their club and leave it at that. I would love to see some genetic research on those who choose to be a Blue and those who opt for the Reds in Liverpool. If, as neuroscientists are attempting to locate at the moment, there is a “god gene”, I would imagine it is more prevalent in Liverpool followers than Everton supporters. (This doesn’t mean they are closer to god but more disposed to believing in one).
It is often remarked that there are more ex-Liverpool players in the media and on football programmes than any other club. Match of the Day is a good example where the definition of a balanced view is to listen to Alan Hansen first and then Mark Lawrenson. But why does this happen? Again, the answer lies in religion or how Liverpool displays all the traits of religion at its worst. There are not more Liverpool representatives because they have history or had success. That would be ridiculous. And statistically Liverpool has had the same number of players in the last 40 years as any other club and they are only one of about 45 teams that have been in the top division during this period, which makes it unlikely that any club would be represented by more than a couple of ex-players on television. But, like religious followers, the ex-players are believers and believers want to be heard. (Evolutionary biologists describe the meme theory where beliefs are transmitted by individuals or a group. This may be how religions survive and so the analogy holds in this case). It is essential for the Liverpool story to be told over and over again and therefore it needs storytellers. This subconsciously propels ex-players from Liverpool to become spokesmen and storytellers and thus perpetuate the myth. The only other club that does this is Arsenal, where it has convinced its own followers first and then the wider public that it has a “way of doing things”. But we can leave Arsenal for another day.
And all this brings us up to Fernando Torres. He is a footballer. He played for Liverpool. He is a good footballer. He decided he wanted to move to another club (in much the same way he decided he wanted to move to Liverpool four years ago). This happens all the time. Footballers either stay at one club all their career or move. These are the only two things they can do. We are all used to it. But something very different has happened here. In fact, something religious has happened.
Fernando Torres was loved at Liverpool. He had a special status like a saint or a leader. And he became an apostate. In religious terms, this is as bad as it gets. No matter how big or how powerful a religion is, the “church” is rocked to its foundations when someone chooses to leave or step outside the line. In Islam, apostates are killed. Think of Salman Rushdie. He wrote a book where he imagined some scenes that involved the prophet having sex. This led to death threats, book burning, flag burning and the incredible scenes of followers of an enormous religion feeling threatened by the words of one man. The lesson is simple. When you are in the club, the church, the movement you do not criticise and you always follow the party line. You’ll Never Walk Alone. The Biggest. History.
Fernando Torres angered his followers by becoming an apostate and daring to say that he was moving somewhere else that might be bigger. And just like across the muslim world the same reaction happened on Merseyside. Book burning, shirt burning. And to back up the meme theory, this was transmitted through the media. It was considered a subject for debate even though the conclusion was never in doubt (as it never is with religious followers). TORRES DID NOT MOVE TO A BIGGER CLUB. HE IS A BAD MAN. HE HAS LIED.
And so Torres has moved from saint to apostate to sinner to Judas figure. And he has been replaced by a second coming, by a brighter future because religions don’t like to lie down and admit defeat. They are never wrong. Every Liverpool follower is now saying exactly the same thing. They did best out of the deal. They got two for one. They traded in someone past his best. They are happy. The religion was challenged but it has come out on top. They will never walk alone.
I could go on about how they have created a god out of Shankly. Someone who is often quoted, even though he didn’t really ever say that much which is particularly illuminating or original. I could also mention the self-pity (another religious characteristic) and their desire to always be a part of every tragedy. In fact, once you start the more you realise how interesting it is that in England there are so many football clubs but only one that stands out for displaying the behaviour traits of a religion.
Religions do need other religions in order to survive. It may be argued that through memes they create other religions themselves along their evolutionary path (Judaism to Christianity to Islam as well as the different branches specifically within Judaism and Christianity). Opposition is a necessary factor for belonging. And, for another day, this is why the new Chelsea myth exists and why “pundits” (followers of Liverpool) are openly antagonistic towards Chelsea, something which they would not do to any other club. Chelsea is a threat and must be treated that way, according to the followers of the Liverpool religion.
But I don’t want to linger on Chelsea, or why Manchester United has continued being successful without displaying the same traits as Liverpool or why nobody has ever considered if Bolton Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion or West Ham United have a history. I just want to show why we all find it so frustrating listening to the nonsense that is spoken about Liverpool and by their followers. And once we begin to understand that it is like listening to a Moonie talking about being saved or a theologian cloaked in mythology masquerading as fact “proving” that miracles really do happen that we realise that we will never be able to argue with Liverpool followers. They are too far gone. And quite simply, that means they are too far away from truth, reality and knowing how to have a good time.”
Posted by Blue Barney from the Chelsea Chat page
The site admin will monitor all comments posted to this site and will edit them as required. The views held are those of the poster and not the CSG
Fantastic Article
One of the best I have read!
LFC a religion? All ‘God’ driven faiths are built upon ‘man made’ creations to opress the people, the Catholic church being a prime example. LFC followers, just like us Blues followers, believe in a ‘being’ (the club) because it genuinely exists! A11men
absolutely stunning piece of writing – cannot wait for “another day” when you write about Arsenal too
Agree with all that has been said.
Excellent article.
Excellent article. Perfectly sums up the scouse mentality. I’m am Utd fan and stumbled across this via twitter and it is spot on.
Unexpectedly verbose, but still nonsense.
I think this article is somewhat sensationlist and inflammatory. I’m not sure that we can criticise Liverpool fans for singing YNWA before each game, suggesting that it is done with some bizarre religious fervour. And an activity that is utterly alien to any other football fan.
As football fans we all naturally defend our teams in the face of criticism. I think that all football fans raised an eyebrow when they saw Torres make this move; and the statement it sent out. Imagine Drogba announcing that he wanted to join Man Utd as he didn’t fancy our chances of winning the league this year? We would naturally be incensed. But we’d find solace in the fact that they had paid through the nose for someone in the twilight of his career. We would convince ourselves that we’d gotten the best deal.
If Liverpool had reacted to the Torres affair by saying “Fair enough. You’re right. We are rubbish”. Then how pathetic would Liverpool appear then? They had to come out fighting. We would.
I would just like to comment as a Liverpool ‘fan’. That liverpool having more representatives in the media is generally to their detriment. They are the first to criticise lfc when things go wrong and tend to increase the pressure and scrutiny on the manager and players. Also however great a player Hansen and Lawenson were; as pundits they are awful and lazy. Its because of them that I no longer watch match of the day
To The Dude – Interesting in what you say as I have never really heard either critisising the “club” – obviously they have crisitisised the play occassionally – especially when you went through a bad period – but do they not do that with everyone?
That is absolutely hilarious! Thanks for a good laugh!
Now go back and wave your plastic flags.
Beautifully said! Only a club WITHOUT history could ever post a story like this! YNWA
Great piece of writing, got a few responses to it on faceboook as well – keep up the good work
“Liverpool have a much bigger and more passionate fanbase than we do, and that upsets me. Religious people are also passionate and there are also lots of them. My analogy breaks down due to the minor difference of “belief in the supernatural without evidence”, but they make me feel inferior anyway, so I have to write a lengthy article on them even though our owner just bought their striker off them.”
Great stuff, and I completely agree that Liverpool fans seem to elevate passion to the level of religious intolerance and blind faith. Some of them anyway. Not sure they’re unique in that respect however. There are quite a lot of Juventus fans who claim that the match-fixing scandal that got them relegated was the result of a conspiracy AGAINST Juventus. I think even Liverpool die-hards might draw the line at that one!
To Jellies:
Your response just re-inforces the thread of the article. At least think about what is written. It’s not threatening to you, it just describes where we all are now. Think about it properly
Great analogy, but still does not explain why they sing a song from a movie called Carousel about a robber killing himself, oh…
superb article, well thought out and brilliantly written. love the bit about when history started being mentioned when winning things stopped. you know what they said about history . its BUNK. Well heres hoping all they can talk about for another good few years is their history . god help us, no pun intended , if they ever win a premier league
I loved the paragraph about history. But the obsession with religion is a bit too much. Pretty derogatory is you ask me. But its still one of the best articles ive ever read, very deep.
Nice one!
The comments from actor and bitter Liverpool follower, that is Stephen Graham, on Soccer A.M. thismorning, paraphrases this article nicely.
Very interesting stuff, brilliantly written, really enjoyed reading it
Love how some of the comments above have confirmed what you are saying!
Im a lfc fan and while a well written argument/arcticle, its both pointless and biased. Most teams have a song they sing b4 the start of a game eg west ham, everton, charlton. To brand all lfc fans as somewhat brainwashed and unable to see anything other than their team and opinion is mildly amusing. U shud actually try talking to some of the fans mate. As for the tragedy pity reference that just seems thrown in for good measure, well done. As for all the pundits, well we dont run skysports, motd, itvsports so u shud ask them as i imagine they would have reasons to seek their views i mean have u ever seen dennis wise on soccer saturday? Dear me!
Following Liverpool is a joy. The friendships are immense. We have travelled the world together. We sing and know that the next fan has our back. We have a song that foreign fans, when we’re in their cities, often come over and ask us to sing. We have had foreign television crews ask to film us singing a song about never giving up, always hoping, always remembering to put the present situation in the context of what could be achieved in the future. Many have told me how it makes their hair stand on end when they hear YNWA – it makes people feel good. All of a sudden that’s a bad thing? A conspiratorial thing? A sinister thing? Should we be ashamed about making people, including non-Liverpool fans feel something special when they hear that? Isn’t that essentially the same reason why people go to the cinema, to a show, on holiday? To feel good? And you think any of that is religious fervour?
This song has helped us bond when times were tough (3-0 down to Milan in the European Cup Final) and steering us into belief. Belief that anything is possible – and it was that night. Those nights then become part of the enduring legend. People talk about them, achieve other non-football things in their lives, because they use Liverpool’s victory against Milan as a reason to carry on fighting, for never accepting defeat.
I’ve used that as an example in my own amateur football team. Never give up.
It is laughable that a fan of what has become synonymous with all that is bad about the “Greed Is Good” League can criticise a global institution with millions of fans worldwide, because they connect and feel connected to each other.
Strip away any part of life’s details and we’re left with the basics: everyone needs someone to love, somewhere to shelter and a means of income. Strip away any part of being a fan of anything: a football club, a pop group, the 2nd biggest selling type of baked beans and you’re left with striking similarities in exhibited behaviour. You’re not a genius for pointing these basics out using long words.
When you think you’ve described a religion, you’ve also just described a totally different collection of individuals – an army. An army of fans dedicated to helping bring joy to any people who care about the club, for whatever reason, and wherever they are in the world. There may not be joy after every match or every season, but there are precious memories, more every season – matches where I took my elderly father and saw the smile on his face as we demolished the great Real Madrid 4-0. To dismiss real memories, emotions and excitement merely as “history” is to dismiss similarly the birth of your first-born, their first smile, their first day at school, their wedding day etc etc – those are exact matches for your definition of your unimportant and irrelevant “history”.
Equally, we don’t all agree over everything. I have had rows with countless Reds. There are Reds I like, Reds I love, Reds I’d give my right arm for and there are Reds I don’t really care for. But I know we would share a passion for helping our side to victory.
But then you’ve glossed over any aspect of Liverpool “followers” that doesn’t fit well with your pseudo-intellectual gobbledegook, in order to deal in multi-syllabled generalisations.
Well-written shit is still shit.
As a club, as an inter-connecting huge group of fans who don’t know each other, we feel connected when watching our club. We take legions of fans to European finals. There is a clamour to watch a successful Liverpool side, it’s a legend, a fantasy. And Liverpool Football Club and its support makes extensive efforts to consciously include people. It doesn’t matter where you come from, where you live, your religion or what colour you are: it just matters that you’re a Liverpool fan in your heart.
Sorry if you can’t grasp that – it must be some kind of religious conspiracy. There’s no other possible explanation.
I love being a fan of Liverpool. And your analogy of it being religious is laughable – take the parts of any ideology (and that’s what support of a non-living, non-breathing thing is) and they will all exhibit traits of the same belief system. Even supporting Chelsea is like a religion for some people. A lot fewer people, granted, but some.
As a cultural-anthropologist I felt it important to respond to this post, primarly because you have misrepresented the majority of the concepts used (belief systems, rituals and symbols) simply to add weight to your argument.
Here’s the problem with your viewpoint: At an anthropological level there are no differences between the “meaning” an individual attempts to find in their particular football club: Community and belonging, identity, folklore, myths & legends, emotion, rituals, etc: All fans of all clubs look for these things (subconsciously).
The level of attachment to each club can vary greatly from person to person. Some people do generate an almost ceremonial nature into their support.
What’s more important for this response though is the level of attachment that each set of fans have for their particular club, and how it is expressed.
As you’ve argued, Liverpool fans have a depth of association and passion that Chelsea fans can’t identify with; it borders on the religious. As I will show, Chelsea fans have the same desire for this strength of attachment, but are unable to demonstrate it because (to provoke a response!) of your lack of history.
The cultural system of representation that LFC fans can draw upon is vast (and initiatory): the Kop, Shankly, 5 Champions Leagues, etc
However, Chelsea fans don’t have this.
What’s net the effect of this? Well, here’s one example: These Chelsea fans copied this Torres flag because to them the purchase of Torres is ‘symbolic’ of the Chelsea they know. What they didn’t realise was they’d copied the Shankly Gateway design onto their Torres flag!
http://www.empireofthekop.com/anfield/?p=28930
What this shows is that Chelsea fans are looking to employ the same cultural assets that you’ve berated Liverpool fans for using in your post. However, because of your lack of history you are having to procure meaning at a superficial level, rather than using the cultural assets that have been EARNED by the club to develop deeper relationships.
But does it really matter?
Well, there is such a thing as a collective memory within cultures. And collective memory is HUGELY important for a football club.
It explains why 10 minutes before the end of the game, Stamford Bridge was emptying out. Chelsea fans are more concerned with catching the tube, than with actually being their to support their team to the end.
It also explains why you WILL boo your own players (including Torres in time) when they aren’t giving you what you want.
There’s no depth in the relationship because for most Chelsea fans it’s superficial. What is there for a Chelsea fan to draw deep meaning from? The hooliganism in the 80s? The underachievement?
And therein lies the flaw in your argument. Chelsea fans are looking for the same meaning as all football fans. You have your rituals, symbols, etc. It’s just that they’re lacking depth because they’ve been bought, not earned.
So, you’re right.
Liverpool fans have a relationship with their club that you will never understand: Because you can’t buy it.
Look, I can understand if this came from a Manc or a Gunner, but for heaven’s sake, someone from Fulham?
I wonder if you guys ever asked yourselves why is it that all you have ever aspired to be, whether intentionally or not, whether premeditated or not, is us?
Any of you ever wondered why your club pushes tunes like the ‘Blue Is The Colour’ to the forefront?
Any of you ever wondered why do you have ‘The Shed’?
Any of you ever wondered why you are in a hurry to build yourself a tradition the way we do?
Your arguments are very deliberately misleading, but I don’t have time to pick all of them apart, so I shall address the more damaging ones.
First off, the media. Yes, there are a lot of our ex-players on air. Why? Could it be that one of the requirements for broadcast punditry is recognition by the masses? Seeing as to how we dominated the footballing landscape a couple of decades ago, of course our former players will have the advantage compared to their peers. Having said that, with the exception of Thommo, who among our ex-players has been consistently behind the team, during the Rafa’s final year or during Hodgson half year tenure? Answer, none. Each and every one of them was, whether voluntarily or otherwise, constrained in a very narrow point of view that hardly ever highlights the positive aspect of the club. Common, you people should know this. The kind of press hounding we’ve been receiving would’ve brought lesser clubs to its knees.
Your comparison of between a Kopite and a religious fanatic was in poor taste, and ultimately wrong again. Liverpool FC is the representation of its community, of its people, of our dream and hopes, of our cultural identity. We are scousers, and we’re damn proud of it. Liverpool FC is a communal based sporting institution, and despite our lackluster 20 years (by our high standards, since during the time, we still won more trophies than any other club bar United), it is still part of the community and it remains our symbol, pride and strength. Our owners, our managers and our administrators, in our eyes, are just the custodians.
But guess what? We are not unique in this. Look at Dortmund, look at Barca, look at Flamengo – look far enough, and wide enough, then you will understand us, and perhaps, even rise above the pettiness and casual disrespect.
Ps: Sorry about the Fulham jibe
Some of the responses from Liverpool fans here actually prove the author’s (light-hearted) point. It seems the alleged Scouse sense of humour is as elusive as Liverpool’s title chances!
First, history. Get over it. Yes, we know all about your history, including the many parts you airbrush out of it. I’m also yet to find the dictionary which defines history as ‘the number of trophies we won between 1975 and 1990′, which incidentally accounts for only 15 years of your 118 year history. In the other 103 years you were mostly a middle of the road team like you are now; you were in Division 2 when we won the league in ’55. History=Trophies is the creed of plastic glory hunters. Liverpool have more of these than most as anyone who lives in London will testify.
We have plenty of history, thanks. Attendances in the region of 80,000 in the 1940s and 1950s which piss all over Liverpool’s record attendance of 61,000 (in one of my first games we got 55,000 for a home game against Fulham in Div 2!) Great players like Greaves, Lawton, Gallacher, Osgood, Wilkins, Gullit and Zola. Winning the league in ’55, the swaggering teams of the 60s and 70s, the epic Leeds cup final in 70, beating Real Madrid in Athens to win the CWC in 71 (2 years before Liverpool won a European trophy), relegation, the dark days of the 80s lit up by our incredible away following, giving the classic Liverpool team a few humblings in the FA Cup, the amazing promotion campaign of 83-84, the classy team of the late 90s playing the best football in the country. Football is about much more than winning European Cups. Maybe if you’d had a little more of our history you’d appreciate that.
This little nugget also caught my eye: “Liverpool fans have a depth of association and passion that Chelsea fans can’t identify with”. As “old school” Chelsea, this is utter nonsense and typical of the myopic, self-important Liverpool fans the author of this article was getting at. Liverpool fans don’t boo their players? Don’t make laugh. And I suppose I imagined all those Liverpool fans streaming out of the Bridge when they were 3-1 down with 10 minutes to go a few years ago (and hence missed Babel’s late goal).
Many LFC fans started supporting them in the 70s and 80s. Shankly and Paisley. Dalglish, Rush, Hansen and Souness. League titles, European Cups. It’s the easiest thing in the world to support a team like that. It’s not so easy supporting a team with no money, no prospects, a decaying ground (which we didn’t even own) and rubbish players. Yet many thousands of Chelsea fans followed that team to places like Shrewsbury, Wrexham, Rotherham and Grimsby, where there was a good chance we’d lose. Only United’s away following was comparable to ours and I include Liverpool in that. For a successful team your away support was always pretty average at the Bridge. You rarely came in any great numbers. No passion? Get over yourselves!
Lastly, here’s what Joey Jones (remember him?) said of the Chelsea fans:
“Listen, I’ve played for Liverpool in their finest period, and never, and I’m not just saying this, have I seen better, more passionate support as I’ve experienced here.”
Steve, am I to understand that you equate lighthearted with misrepresentation?
In addition,instead of addressing the debunking of all the OP’s initial claim, you proceeded to shift the goalposts and start a new line of … what?
And finally, picking an obscure player from the 70′s, with an unsubstantiated quote, is your best attempt at proving the passion of your fandom? lol.
Understand this, fella: This article originated from your official site. That was in bad taste (thankfully, someone there had the sense to take it down soon after). It was a silly little rant made up of half-truths and weak suppositions, and might I add, very unbecoming.
I have yet to see even one of you offering an apology. Just take a step back, and imagine if one of us actually take the effort to ‘lightheartedly’ insult you lot with, at the risk of repeating myself, half-truths and weak suppositions.
For a part of the world famous for its sense of humour you’re all surprisingly humourless. I found the piece entertaining and several points were near the mark based on my experiences of your fans. I suspect it resonated with other non-Liverpool fans out there too.
The hypersensitive reaction of the LFC fans here to “a silly little rant” (your words) just demonstrates what the author was getting at. And you want an apology too?? At the risk of repeating myself, get over yourselves!
As for Joey Jones being an obscure player from the 70s… Do you even know who he is and what your fans of that era thought of him?
If I was a Chelsea fan I would be embarrassed by this article. Rather than focusing on your own team you are infatuated by another team. It’s quite ironic that in the article you say that LFC fans are determined to proclaim themselves as the best in the world, when clearly, other fans are still obsessed about trying, naively to belittle various assets of LFC. This is why Chelsea will always be a small club, trying to rubbish other clubs, with the feeling deep down of jealously and contempt for LFC. It’s hilarious that you are so bothered about trying to proclaim LFC as self obsessed when you all are cleary obsessed with LFC.
few days back i was reading an article about united think they are really better than us from some liverpool blogger in which he says abt agger being better than ferdinand/lucas being better than carrick /gerrad being better than rayn giggs/carroll being better than harnandez/henderson being better than nani/ most of all saurez being better than rooney…ofcourse saurez being really talented and has given really promising performances but hes hasnt really being tested or known much by other clubs and putting defensive strategy against him n rooney has been almost proving himself to be one of the best in world for past 3 years ….so that says it all ..about them …
Good read. Not sure I totally agree, Liverpool do have a proud history but as pointed out, the 15 major years of success are only part of this.
Any club that has been established a while has history, and success or not this lineage is something to take pride in.
The reason that we use the ‘history’ argument against Chelsea fans is because you don’t follow the same principles that your club originated with, yes you may have won trophies in the past, as have we, as have Utd and many others, but the recent success of Chelsea only came about because of a certain Russian billionaire injecting lots of cash into the club. As you have heard many times before from Liverpool fans you ‘Bought’ your recent trophies for an extravagantly large sum. United on the other hand built their team from the ground up over time and didn’t over indulge (as seems to be the only way to Challenge for honours these days) which is why a lot of Liverpool fans and fans from other teams have respect for United.
As for the Torres thing, we did get two very good players out of a deal that offloaded one off-form unhappy player, that is a fact that cannot be argued, but most Liverpool fans were disgusted at the fact that about 48 hours before he handed in his transfer request he had said he was staying and wouldn’t leave, especially for another Premier League team, hence that hatred and shirt burning!
Brilliant article! 100% spot on!
And I’m an United fan.
As a Liverpool supporter, fan, follower, whatever, I strongly believe that other football fans are entitled to their opinion.Whether I agree or not, is a completely different matter. We can’t impose our beliefs on you, neither can you.
If that’s how Chelsea fans look at us fine but to consider the article as lighthearted is utter nonsense. The only ones’ who can judge whether it’s lighthearted or not are the one’s it is directly addressed to i.e. Liverpool supporters. The title in itself “Liverpool Myth” is offensive. In your opinion, we’re not even allowed to criticize the article and everything we say will only prove its credibility. I have yet to see an article this large, written by any Liverpool supporter covering other clubs. Talk about obsession. It’s fair to say you are an atheist and consider religion to be evil and only a means to control society’s mind. How you put Liverpool on par with that however, simply because you think of the club as another evil myth, is beyond my understanding. Obsessed indeed.
I’m a liverpool fan – absolutely love it!!! lol
We are to far gone!!!!!! lol love it!!
Beyond help!!
Well done mate -great writing as well.
YWNA = Amen, they say it all the time at the end of every sentence!
Mind blowing, yet true.
Great article but nothing there i didnt already know as i live in Liverpool. I always state to a Liverpool follower that if Maradona , Pele , Beckenbaur and Messi played at Anfield in the same game it would be a terrible shame for 99% of the crowd as they wouldnt notice them through their red Blinkers !
The truth is out there. It hurts (those who don’t like it)!
Great piece mate.
Genius