Jurgen Klopp has banned six Liverpool stars from touching the famous ‘This Is Anfield’ sign before matches.
The ‘This Is Anfield’ sign is iconic, having been celebrated across European football since being first installed by Bill Shankly some 50 years ago.
The statement piece underpinned one of Shankly’s most famous quotes: “It’s there to remind our lads who they’re playing for and to remind the opposition who they’re playing against!”
The sign has been replaced three times over the years but still retained its historic status into the present day.
In the past decade alone it has bore witness to Liverpool’s 19 league title, sixth European Cup, ninth league cup, eighth FA Cup, fourth Super Cup and first Club World Cup.
The current crop of players ritualistically touch the sign as they make their way onto the field.
However, as things stand, six players have not yet earned the privilege to do so.
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Back in 2016, during the early days of his Liverpool tenure, Klopp said: “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.”
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Summertime acquisitions Should the ban remain in place, Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Alexis Mac Allister are all forbidden from touching the sign.
Due to the Reds’ lack of championship success the previous season, rookie players Stefan Bajcetic and Cody Gakpo, who joined the team in January, are also forbidden from touching the tunnel sign.