Jurgen Klopp has instituted a ban on ten Liverpool players, including Darwin Nunez, preventing them from touching the renowned ‘This Is Anfield’ sign. Anfield, with its rich history and fervent fan base, holds a special place in football lore.
While the public may not witness it, the ‘This is Anfield’ sign, installed by the legendary Bill Shankly 50 years ago, marks the players’ final view before entering the pitch. Over the years, it became a tradition for Liverpool stars to touch the sign as they made their way down the tunnel, embodying Shankly’s quote: “It’s there to remind our lads who they’re playing for and to remind the opposition who they’re playing against!”
However, in 2016, Jurgen Klopp halted this tradition, stating, “I’ve told my players not to touch the ‘This Is Anfield’ sign until they win something! It’s a sign of respect.” Klopp himself had touched the sign during his tenure at Borussia Dortmund, only to lose 4-0.
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Since Liverpool’s last trophy win in the 2022 FA Cup final against Chelsea, the ban extends to ten players who have yet to secure silverware. Notable among them is Darwin Nunez, who joined the club after the cup final victory. Other players on the list include Cody Gakpo, Stefan Bajcetic, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch, Ben Doak, Jarell Quansah, and Conor Bradley.
The Carabao Cup final against Chelsea on February 25 presents an opportunity for these players to potentially end their ban and touch the iconic sign.