How can you boo James Milner?
Manchester City recorded a resounding 5-0 win over Liverpool on Saturday afternoon, in a game that seemed to hinge on one moment. Liverpool had the better of the early play, posing City’s rickety back-three problems with their pace, and it looked like only a matter of time before Sadio Mane or Mo Salah exploited a mistake by Nicolas Otamendi.
City then took the lead, with Sergio Aguero finishing after a brilliant through ball by Kevin de Bruyne, before the game was effectively ended as a contest. Mane chased after a ball over the top, and City goalkeeper Ederson came out of his penalty area. The ‘keeper got there first, heading the ball clear, and Mane collided with him. The referee gave the Liverpool winger a straight red card and the decision caused a lot of debate on social media.
From that point on, the result was a foregone conclusion.
City scored again before half-time and another three times before full-time. Pep Guardiola’s side won the game 5-0 to move top of the table before the 3pm kick-0ffs in the Premier League.
By the time Mane was sent off, #LFC had already hinted at familiar vulnerabilities | @dionfanning https://t.co/O8xor63kik
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) September 9, 2017
In addition to the red card, and the five goals, there were other talking points from the game. The behaviour of some City fans had a lot of people talking on social media. Some of those in the Etihad got on the wrong side of the watching public with their chants and attitude towards a former player.
First there was a tired old chant about Steven Gerrard. You might not have heard, but the former Liverpool captain slipped in a game against Chelsea when the team were closing in on their first league title in 24 years, after previously telling his teammates that their position at the top of the table “does not slip.” Liverpool lost the game and missed out on the league title to City on goal difference.
It happened over three years ago, and Gerrard is long retired, but City fans dusted off the old chant on Saturday, and it didn’t go well on social media.
😂😂😂😂😂 wow it's taken @ManCity fans 20 seconds to sing about stevie Gerrard 😂😂 PAHHHHHHH
— Craig Harrison (@greg_g_manRH) September 9, 2017
FIFTEEN SECONDS INTO THE GAME AND MAN CITY FANS ARE SINGING ABOUT GERRARD SLIPPING 4 YEARS A GO
— . (@VirgilDanDijk) September 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/viktorkruger1/status/906480472670294017
City fans then had another chant, and this one also took aim at their cross-city rivals, Manchester United.
Some of the home fans chanted that Liverpool, like United, “live in the past.” Unlike City, United and Liverpool dominated English football in the past, and they achieved their success without funding from an oil-rich state which relies on migrants working in destitute conditions.
Harsh words from Man City fans to Liverpool's: "Just like United – you live in the past."
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) September 9, 2017
Once again, the chant didn’t go down well.
That would make sense if Man City were champions of something.
— John Slater (@JohnSlaterITFC) September 9, 2017
Champions of Europe, they'll never sing that.
— Paul Chapman (@PaulChapman_) September 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/Mr_C_Stevens/status/906502393801662464
Least we both have history to talk about 👍
— James (@james_pearse1) September 9, 2017
At least we have a past!! Any chance city fans could fill their stadium!!
— Captain 8 Ball (@LFC_Hughesy) September 9, 2017
Finally, City fans were criticised for booing James Milner, their former player who came on as a second-half substitute for Liverpool.
Milner is so inoffensive that there is a parody account called “Boring James Milner” in his honour. He played over 200 times for City between 2010 and 2015, helping the club win two league titles, and was a consummate professional during his entire time at the Etihad. Milner left the club in search of more first-team opportunities at Liverpool, and has never had a bad word to say about City.
Yet, some of the home fans in attendance thought it was a good idea to boo him as he entered the game.
Emre Can just asked me why the City fans were booing me. I said I don't know Emre. I looked to the crowd & all I could see was empty seats.
— Boring Milner (@BoringMilner) September 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/MC_of_A/status/906501629121372160
Says a lot for City fans that they choose to boo Milner, a man who served them well and tirelessly. Very unimpressive.
— Mike Wilson* (@Redsmail) September 9, 2017
James Milner:
Plays for City for 5 years
Gives his all in every game
Doesn't get offered a contract
Joins LFCCity boo's are so classless
— Zaahid (@Zaahid_LFC) September 9, 2017
Why do #MCFC fans boo Milner? He is pretty inoffensive, and gave his all whilst he was there? #MCFCLFC
— Edward Griffiths (@GriffithsEddie) September 9, 2017
how can you boo someone as inoffensive as James Milner
— John Bradley (@jbradleymedia) September 9, 2017
