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Sky News
6 days ago
- General
- Sky News
'The community has stood strong': How Liverpool is trying to heal from trauma at trophy parade
The memorabilia that marks a milestone title - No 20 - is still being snapped up two days on from the Premier League trophy parade. Water Street, where a vehicle struck crowds gathered to celebrate their team's success, was open again today - cleared the detritus of the horror, and the bottles of beer were abandoned in an instant. But Liverpool fans are asking whether a day filled with so much joy can be reclaimed for the euphoria, after scenes of such devastation. "The incident itself, it's obviously ended up very much marring the memory of what should have been a great day," said Neil Atkinson, host of The Anfield Wrap podcast. "There are a lot of different lived realities at once. Those right by the event obviously have theirs. "But as that sort of spreads out, everyone's in a bit of a different place. "So I think in the fullness of time - if everyone involved makes a full recovery, insofar as that's possible because there are other types of scar and not just physical - then I think that people can remember it as a positive occasion." Liverpool has dealt with trauma before at Hillsborough and beyond, when institutions have endangered and failed fans. This feels harder to comprehend - the shock - why the vehicle was driven through a crowd enjoying the most uplifting of days. Shortly before, the Strand nearby had been cloaked in a haze of red smoke that had followed the buses through the 10-mile parade, You'll Never Walk Alone booming out. The song is more than an anthem; it is woven into the club's identity, embodying the bond between fans and the club. Here, it was the soundtrack of celebration. In moments of tragedy, it has been the hymn of resilience amid healing. "The Liverpool community has stood firm," Mr Atkinson said. "Everyone just wants to help and support, and I think the human instinct, first and foremost, when bad things, scary things happen, is that there are people who want to reach out, and I think that is a good, it's a special thing. And the Reds are feeling the outpouring of solidarity, with rivals rallying behind them from far and wide. "I love Liverpool and I think that Liverpool has something about it that's genuinely exceptional," Atkinson said. "But I also love that … I was getting messages from people who aren't even connected to the game, who see this, who want to check that I was all right.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'A club using its history' - 20 years since Istanbul and a 'full-circle moment'
"History is only the base for us, but you're not allowed to carry around your big history with you in a backpack." Jurgen Klopp's words from his unveiling as the new Liverpool manager in 2015 still resonate with me to this day. The club had just celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Reds' famous win over AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul and this weekend we celebrate the 20th anniversary. I was nine years old when Liverpool completed that miraculous comeback, but it was still a special night for me for so many reasons. The watershed moment for me had been the 2003 Worthington Cup final and being able to stick it to every Manchester United fan I went to school with. Yet fresh off the back of the heartbreak of seeing Gerard Houllier depart and Michael Owen leave for Real Madrid, I wasn't overly ready to embrace new ideas and find new love. I'd be lying if I said that the 2004-05 iteration of the Reds had completely captured my imagination. We'd gone from a Ballon d'Or winner to a couple of lads I didn't especially recognise and there wasn't tons of inspiration elsewhere around the pitch for a nine-year-old looking purely for footballing vibes at that stage. AC Milan, by contrast, had vibes and football heritage in abundance. As their superstars cut swathes through Liverpool in that first 45 minutes, the idea of yet another football heartbreak so early in my career as a supporter completely overwhelmed me to tears. My brother, who was slightly longer in the tooth, had a similar reaction. My mum tried to reassure us that all hope was not lost. 'What does she know,' we agreed… We all know what happened next. Those scenes caused my brother and I to go from despair upstairs to dancing on the dinner table. It was the greatest night of our lives to that point. Luckily for us, Liverpool have since managed to add a couple more life-affirming moments to an already-rich tapestry. The symbolism of this weekend's anniversary and being able to see the Premier League trophy lifted by our captain in the flesh will not be lost on me. A club using its history as a base but not carrying it round in their backpacks will experience yet another full circle moment. And we're never gonna stop. Find more from Josh Sexton at The Anfield Wrap
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The fan and the local player - a relationship hanging by a thread
Red as far as the eye can see, the air filled with smoke and song, every step closer to Anfield another assault on the senses. Liverpool fans are gathering to watch the final game of the season, at the end of which their title-winning team will lift the Premier League trophy on what promises to be a day of celebrations. While swathes of supporters make their way across Stanley Park, those approaching from the opposite direction up Oakfield Road might spot a sign which has been sellotaped to the front of a boarded-up house about 100 metres from the ground. On it are the words: "MATE OR TRAITOR. Take Ya Pick, Trent." It is aimed at Trent Alexander-Arnold. A Scouser, Alexander-Arnold has been with Liverpool since the age of six and has won every trophy imaginable with them. Now 26, he is preparing to say goodbye to join Real Madrid, arguably the biggest club in world football. On what is sure to be an emotional afternoon, there are likely to be cheers, tears - and boos. Was it always destined to be this way? It's complicated. This is about far more than just a club losing their star player, a right-back considered by some to be one of the most naturally gifted English footballers of his generation. This is about identity. "Because there is a general sense of detachment in football now, it's stories like Trent's – at least before this season – that you do cling on to," Josh Sexton, from The Anfield Wrap podcast, told BBC Sport. "You feel like that's something you can find relatable and something you can hang your hat on. It's people like Trent who you look at and think 'I am like you' in some ways. "Even in the behemoth that is global football now, local players like him almost make it seem like it's a grounded experience." But the number of local players is dwindling: With one round of games to go, 191 English footballers have played in the Premier League in 2024-25 - down from 379 in 1992-93. BBC Sport research has found that Alexander-Arnold is one of only 28 local players - born within 10 miles of their club's stadium - across the entire top flight to have made 10 or more league appearances this season. That's from a pool of 559 players in total to have appeared at least once. Four teams - Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, Southampton and Wolves - haven't given a single minute of league playing time to a local player in 2024-25. In total, 14 local players have made their debuts for Premier League clubs this season. The sense of "detachment" Sexton talks about doesn't just come from the influx of foreign players, but from the wider globalisation - and commercialisation - of the game. Only five of the 20 Premier League clubs are now owned by English people or companies - more are owned by Americans - while just two top-flight sides are currently managed by Englishmen. Football is a sport transformed since the creation of the Premier League in the early 1990s. Yet, according to sociologist and author David Goldblatt, there remains a yearning for the past - in part, playing out through fans' relationship with local players. "Football clubs are symbolic and practical representations of local communities and neighbourhoods in a world where there's almost nothing else left that can fulfil that function," Goldblatt told BBC Sport. "While the game has been globalised in terms of the player labour market, coaches, ownership and even fandom in the case of some clubs, a residue of the old order is peculiarly precious. "Football in England - and Britain as a whole - is a long, romantic goodbye to industrial working-class Britain. At the core of our mythic remembrance of that era is a sense of localism, a sense of working-class security and pride. You joined a firm and you were there for life - and firms, in particular, represented and expressed the locality. "The residue of that in football is the very few one-club stars." And very few is correct. There are only two current Premier League players older than Alexander-Arnold who have spent their entire professional careers with the same team - Solly March and Lewis Dunk, both at Brighton. Alexander-Arnold leaves as modern Liverpool great - but fans will feel hurt 'I know why Real appeal to Alexander-Arnold - I was tempted too' How could Liverpool replace Alexander-Arnold? Speaking in 2022, Dunk, now 33, said he wanted to remain "a one-club man" at Amex Stadium. "I was born here, my childhood was here, I've played for and captained the club... to do it in your home town, not many people get to do that," he explained. But Dunk is not your typical footballer. The idea of playing for the club you support - and spending your entire professional career with them - may be the stuff of dreams for fans, but it doesn't often quite work out like that for players. "It's sometimes really hard for supporters - you feel like they fall for it every time. 'This player really loves us'... and then they move on," former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports. "Players don't think like supporters. "He [Alexander-Arnold] will lose something that he's got right now in terms of the Liverpool fans. "Some people will say playing for Real Madrid... that price isn't worth paying. While others will say you've got to play for Real Madrid, they're the biggest club in the world. "That is something he's sacrificed. That's his decision." And then there are the downsides to being a local player. Chris Sutton was a Premier League winner with Blackburn Rovers in 1994-95 - but his first taste of professional football was with Norwich. The former striker was born in Nottingham but his family moved to Norfolk when he was a couple of years old, so for him it was his hometown club. "Is there a difference when you are playing for your local club? Yes, because you have this attachment to the club, your family and the area. You are playing for them all," he told BBC Sport. "From the outside, people always think how great it is when someone has come through and is playing for his boyhood club, but in many ways there is greater pressure than when you have moved somewhere. "You don't always get more patience from fans just because you are a local lad, but that is a consequence of the environment and the expectations at clubs. A lot of the time now, fans expect immediate success from these players coming through. They want them to be the finished article. "A few years ago, I did think you maybe got a longer opportunity to prove yourself as a young player. I think now, though, we're in an age of instant judgement." For Alexander-Arnold, it is likely his leaving Anfield is more about the upsides of life with Los Blancos than the downsides of any added pressure on Merseyside. Nonetheless, many Liverpool fans have been left questioning the dynamic of their relationship with the defender. To use Sexton's words: "Why are you doing this?" "It's that lack of understanding which has caused such a strong reaction," he added. "I'm not surprised it's got particularly emotional." Matt Butler, from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London, says the depth of feeling is not dissimilar to that shared among a group of mates. "We can easily draw parallels to friends leaving a friendship group, maybe moving away, or a colleague headhunted by another company and goes away and sets up with a competitor - that can provide a feeling of betrayal or even grief that it is happening," he told BBC Sport. "Humans form groups and we really value the groups we are part of. That includes football teams because football fans can have identity fusions where their own identity becomes merged with the group - the club and the players. "That means we take on quite deep emotional importance to our groups and we are very keen that people do not take advantage of the groups we are part of. So any sort of leaving the group or any sense they feel they have been betrayed it feels like a real transgression." A feeling of betrayal - and also a sense of longing for what was once shared but is now being lost. "Football is steeped in nostalgia," he added. "Nostalgia really binds groups together - we all remember our previous successes and how things used to be. "I think there is a reaction [in this] to the changing football landscape and there might be a sense of loss over that in that the fans may feel they might not see this type of player come through any more, or perhaps they might fear they won't be as deeply connected with a player like this in the future." Latest Liverpool news, analysis and fan views Get Liverpool news sent straight to your phone
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Trent Alexander-Arnold: The relationship between local players & fans
Red as far as the eye can see, the air filled with smoke and song, every step closer to Anfield another assault on the fans are gathering to watch the final game of the season, at the end of which their title-winning team will lift the Premier League trophy on what promises to be a day of swathes of supporters make their way across Stanley Park, those approaching from the opposite direction up Oakfield Road might spot a sign which has been sellotaped to the front of a boarded-up house about 100 metres from the it are the words: "MATE OR TRAITOR. Take Ya Pick, Trent." It is aimed at Trent Alexander-Arnold.A Scouser, Alexander-Arnold has been with Liverpool since the age of six and has won every trophy imaginable with 26, he is preparing to say goodbye to join Real Madrid, arguably the biggest club in world football. On what is sure to be an emotional afternoon, there are likely to be cheers, tears - and it always destined to be this way? It's complicated. Where have all the local players gone? This is about far more than just a club losing their star player, a right-back considered by some to be one of the most naturally gifted English footballers of his is about identity."Because there is a general sense of detachment in football now, it's stories like Trent's – at least before this season – that you do cling on to," Josh Sexton, from The Anfield Wrap podcast, told BBC Sport."You feel like that's something you can find relatable and something you can hang your hat on. It's people like Trent who you look at and think 'I am like you' in some ways."Even in the behemoth that is global football now, local players like him almost make it seem like it's a grounded experience."But the number of local players is dwindling:With one round of games to go, 191 English footballers have played in the Premier League in 2024-25 - down from 379 in Sport research has found that Alexander-Arnold is one of only 28 local players - born within 10 miles of their club's stadium - across the entire top flight to have made 10 or more league appearances this season. That's from a pool of 559 players in total to have appeared at least teams - Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, Southampton and Wolves - haven't given a single minute of league playing time to a local player in total, 14 local players have made their debuts for Premier League clubs this season. 'A residue of the old order is peculiarly precious' The sense of "detachment" Sexton talks about doesn't just come from the influx of foreign players, but from the wider globalisation - and commercialisation - of the five of the 20 Premier League clubs are now owned by English people or companies - more are owned by Americans - while just two top-flight sides are currently managed by is a sport transformed since the creation of the Premier League in the early according to sociologist and author David Goldblatt, there remains a yearning for the past - in part, playing out through fans' relationship with local players."Football clubs are symbolic and practical representations of local communities and neighbourhoods in a world where there's almost nothing else left that can fulfil that function," Goldblatt told BBC Sport."While the game has been globalised in terms of the player labour market, coaches, ownership and even fandom in the case of some clubs, a residue of the old order is peculiarly precious."Football in England - and Britain as a whole - is a long, romantic goodbye to industrial working-class Britain. At the core of our mythic remembrance of that era is a sense of localism, a sense of working-class security and pride. You joined a firm and you were there for life - and firms, in particular, represented and expressed the locality."The residue of that in football is the very few one-club stars."And very few is correct. There are only two current Premier League players older than Alexander-Arnold who have spent their entire professional careers with the same team - Solly March and Lewis Dunk, both at Brighton. 'Players don't think like supporters' Speaking in 2022, Dunk, now 33, said he wanted to remain "a one-club man" at Amex Stadium."I was born here, my childhood was here, I've played for and captained the club... to do it in your home town, not many people get to do that," he explained., externalBut Dunk is not your typical idea of playing for the club you support - and spending your entire professional career with them - may be the stuff of dreams for fans, but it doesn't often quite work out like that for players."It's sometimes really hard for supporters - you feel like they fall for it every time. 'This player really loves us'... and then they move on," former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports. "Players don't think like supporters."He [Alexander-Arnold] will lose something that he's got right now in terms of the Liverpool fans."Some people will say playing for Real Madrid... that price isn't worth paying. While others will say you've got to play for Real Madrid, they're the biggest club in the world."That is something he's sacrificed. That's his decision."And then there are the downsides to being a local Sutton was a Premier League winner with Blackburn Rovers in 1994-95 - but his first taste of professional football was with former striker was born in Nottingham but his family moved to Norfolk when he was a couple of years old, so for him it was his hometown club."Is there a difference when you are playing for your local club? Yes, because you have this attachment to the club, your family and the area. You are playing for them all," he told BBC Sport."From the outside, people always think how great it is when someone has come through and is playing for his boyhood club, but in many ways there is greater pressure than when you have moved somewhere."You don't always get more patience from fans just because you are a local lad, but that is a consequence of the environment and the expectations at clubs. A lot of the time now, fans expect immediate success from these players coming through. They want them to be the finished article."A few years ago, I did think you maybe got a longer opportunity to prove yourself as a young player. I think now, though, we're in an age of instant judgement." 'Fans feel a sense of loss - and fear' For Alexander-Arnold, it is likely his leaving Anfield is more about the upsides of life with Los Blancos than the downsides of any added pressure on many Liverpool fans have been left questioning the dynamic of their relationship with the defender. To use Sexton's words: "Why are you doing this?""It's that lack of understanding which has caused such a strong reaction," he added. "I'm not surprised it's got particularly emotional."Matt Butler, from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London, says the depth of feeling is not dissimilar to that shared among a group of mates."We can easily draw parallels to friends leaving a friendship group, maybe moving away, or a colleague headhunted by another company and goes away and sets up with a competitor - that can provide a feeling of betrayal or even grief that it is happening," he told BBC Sport."Humans form groups and we really value the groups we are part of. That includes football teams because football fans can have identity fusions where their own identity becomes merged with the group - the club and the players."That means we take on quite deep emotional importance to our groups and we are very keen that people do not take advantage of the groups we are part of. So any sort of leaving the group or any sense they feel they have been betrayed it feels like a real transgression."A feeling of betrayal - and also a sense of longing for what was once shared but is now being lost."Football is steeped in nostalgia," he added. "Nostalgia really binds groups together - we all remember our previous successes and how things used to be."I think there is a reaction [in this] to the changing football landscape and there might be a sense of loss over that in that the fans may feel they might not see this type of player come through any more, or perhaps they might fear they won't be as deeply connected with a player like this in the future."
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Liverpool fans remind rivals of title success
A group of Liverpool fans were keen to remind one of their closest rivals about their Premier League success this Tuesday, an advertisement on a billboard close to Old Trafford, home of Manchester United, read: "Manchester, just 37 miles to the country's most successful football club."The billboard message contained the logo of The Anfield Wrap channel, which later posted on social media:, external "A message for Manchester... and we're never gonna stop."By winning this season's competition, Liverpool are now level with United on 20 league titles.
