Jurgen Klopp enforces BAN on Darwin Nunez and 10 Liverpool players from touching iconic ‘This is Anfield’ sign

Jurgen Klopp has told Darwin Nunez and 10 other players not to touch the 'This is Anfield' logo. Here's why.

Jurgen Klopp enforces BAN on Darwin Nunez and 10 Liverpool players from touching iconic ‘This is Anfield’ sign

Darwin Nunez and 10 other Liverpool players can't touch the 'This is Anfield' logo, as per Jurgen Klopp's orders. (Via X/@brfootball & Football__Tweet)

Unless you’re a Liverpool player, Anfield is irrefutably one of the most daunting venues to play at. From FC Barcelona in 2019 to the comeback against Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League, the stadium has been witness to some historic clashes. However, away from the view of fans lies an iconic sign inside the tunnel that reads ‘This is Anfield’, touched by hundreds of Liverpool players over the years before they take to the pitch.

The board was introduced over 50 years ago by legendary manager Bill Shankly, as he gave birth to one of his most iconic quotes.

 It's there to remind our boys who they're playing for and the opposition who they're playing against!
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However, current boss Jurgen Klopp has made the bold decision of banning a section of his players from doing so, and the reason is not what you’d expect.

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He put an end to the tradition back in 2016, stating, 

I've told my plays not to touch the sign until they've won something at the club. It's a sign of respect.

Klopp also admitted that he touched the sign while he was Dortmund’s manager. The Germans proceeded to lose the game 4-0.

https://twitter.com/CharlieeLFC/status/1752262710702604313?s=20

As part of his decision, he has now effectively ‘banned’ ten players in the squad. The banned list of players includes £85-million-man Darwin Nunez from touching the sign. Other ‘big name’ players that have been banned include Cody Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai.

‘Thiago in, Szoboszlai out’ – Liverpool’s injury woes continue with latest injury

Liverpool fans were thrilled at the sight of Thiago Alcantara making his first appearance for the club in over 280 days. While the Spanish midfielder made a five-minute cameo as Liverpool lost 3-1, another midfielder has been ruled out for at least 8 games. Dominik Szoboszlai was absent from the squad that faced Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday.

Dominik Szoboszlai
Dominik Szoboszlai failed to make the squad against Arsenal on Sunday. (Via X/@LFC)

As news surrounding the extent of his injury-hit social media, fans were disappointed to know that the player will miss the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea. The player is set to miss at least 8 games for Liverpool, including the final against the Blues on the 25th. What comes as more of a disappointment is that the Hungarian had only recently recovered from a setback suffered in January against Newcastle.

Klopp confirmed that the same injury had flared up, putting the midfielder out of selection against Liverpool. 

Dom felt in the same area, or pretty much a similar area to where he was injured earlier.

As for the game against Arsenal, it was clear that the club missed the player, as a 3-1 loss ended the club’s 9-game unbeaten streak. Further, posing a hurdle in their title charge.

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