Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has described the guard of honour tradition as “a load of nonsense” ahead of the Reds’ trip to Manchester City on Thursday.
Pep Guardiola confirmed his side will be giving Jurgen Klopp’s men the traditional guard of honour with it being their first match since being crowned Premier League champions.
Guardiola said the Reds “deserve it” after clinching the title with seven matches still remaining following City’s defeat to Chelsea last Thursday.
Murphy believes the supporters don’t want it to happen, and neither do the players and is questioning why it still happens.
Speaking on talkSPORT , Murphy said: “It’s a perception of respect, ‘the right thing to do’, the message you’re trying to send to the football world that when somebody wins, that you show respect and grace.
“The fact City will be doing it on Thursday will show humility, saying ‘well done’ to Liverpool and appreciation for their quality. I think it’s a load of nonsense!
“I don’t know where it started and why it started, I would feel uncomfortable doing it. I’d do it because you have to do it, but I wouldn’t want to do it, because it’s not done with sincerity.
“If I was a Liverpool player and United won the league, you know they’re better than you, you respect that and you’re trying your best to be like them, so they know you respect them.
Listen to all the big LFC headlines in the Morning Bulletin podcast HERE
“The fans don’t want you to do it, the players don’t really want to do it, it’s all for effect and it doesn’t mean anything.”
Murphy went onto explain how some of the Liverpool players being clapped out by Kevin De Bruyne aren’t even fit to lace the Belgian midfielder’s boots.
“Kevin De Bruyne is the best midfielder, probably, in the world, and he’s clapping his hands and giving a guard of honour to players who can’t even lace his boots,” the ex-Reds midfielder added.
