Oh Liverpool, you really know how to make things naff, don’t you?
For all their history as one of the most storied clubs in world football, they don’t half act like your overly sincere aunt on Facebook from time to time.
This came to a head during Brendan Rodgers’ reign and the ‘Being Liverpool’ documentary that followed the Reds during their preparation for the 2012/13 season, giving us a look behind the scenes at Rodgers’ cheesy motivation tactics – including the now infamous “envelope scene”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55mBEbF78LM
Rodgers may have been replaced with the more straight forward Jurgen Klopp, but not much else has changed around a club that revels in sentimentality.
There are few clubs prouder and more aware of their own history than Liverpool. It’s part of what makes Liverpool great, but in the modern age it can sometimes be exploited for some some rather cringey marketing purposes.
This appears to be the case for the Reds’ third kit for the season ahead.
Every club seems to have a third strip these days, and they all seem to be trying to outdo each other with increasingly gaudy colours that take their inspiration from hi-vis jackets. In the early hours of Friday morning, Liverpool unveiled their new effort.
📸 In full…
What do you make of the 16/17 @NBFootball Third Kit, Reds? pic.twitter.com/cXkqEXv5Tj
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 29, 2016
It’s a fairly standard third kit, with the fluorescent yellow/green perfect for cycling home at night after training in winter.
But it’s not the kit itself which makes us roll our eyes, it’s the message stitched into the back which declares that “Liverpool players must play like a lion”.
Apparently uttered by former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier, the sentiment has not gone down that well with the Anfield support.
"Liverpool Players Must Play Like A Lion."
Sorry, no. Unnecessary. Club already has an identity. Use it.
(GR). https://t.co/yYIoWyUjk8
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) July 29, 2016
https://twitter.com/ChrisHurst__/status/758914245916364800
https://twitter.com/Yers_Saliyev/status/758939943783714816
stop putting cringey quotes on all our new kits. Thanks
— Col (@Col_Marp) July 29, 2016
https://twitter.com/jrabaca/status/758927289283321857
And sentences poor grammer was enough to annoyed fans to.
Just so we clear "Liverpool players must play like a lion" doesn't make grammatical sense.
— Underwhelmed (@jagdesh) July 29, 2016
https://twitter.com/MikLFC/status/758953444153581568
https://twitter.com/TheJohnBob/status/758965905992716288
shouldn't it be Liverpool players must play like lions OR a Liverpool player must play like a lion #grammar
— Jack Forrester (@JaxDraven) July 28, 2016
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