“You can’t control ... how many people were here [in total]? Eighty thousand so, yeah, it’s disappointing to hear that. But if those persons can go home and be happy with themselves, then ...”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot was diplomatic about the incident afterwards, saying: “I’m a positive person and if I look at the respect that has been paid to them both from everywhere around the world, I had this in my mind.
“It was not planned by the fan or fans who made the noise and then the fans of Palace were trying to calm them down and that was noise as well and our fans reacted.
“I don’t think there was a bad intention to it because fans around the world have paid respect to Diogo and Andre. And we will see Friday, when Bournemouth come to our stadium, how respectful fans will be. Maybe this fan was so happy to be in the Community Shield he forgot for a second.”
Ian Rush and Palace co-owner Steve Parish laid wreaths on the pitch in the brothers’ memory before the game. There was also a poignant moment in the first half when defender Jeremie Frimpong scored in the 20th minute just as the Liverpool fans were celebrating their former No 20 in the stands.
Liverpool fans also booed the national anthem before the match, continuing their long tradition of protest during any airings of God Save The King. It has become a feature of every club visit to Wembley.
Loud jeers and boos rang out as soon as the anthem was announced inside the stadium and continued throughout the rendition.
Many Liverpool supporters have a longstanding history of anti-establishment sentiment, which has been expressed during the national anthem periodically since the 1980s. It has been a repeated issue in recent seasons as a result of the club’s success.
This was Liverpool’s fifth trip to Wembley in three years, with three games against Chelsea in one FA Cup and two League Cup finals, as well as last season’s League Cup final defeat by Newcastle United. On each occasion, Liverpool fans have protested during the anthem.
Jurgen Klopp defended the club’s fans’ right to voice their dissent during his reign, saying in 2022 that the supporters were “wonderful people” who “wouldn’t do it unless there’s a reason for it”.
“Not everything is better than in the past, but thank God, we have the freedom of free speech and freedom of opinion,” he said. “It was clear something like this would happen, everybody knew it. That is fine, nothing else happened, there were no chants.
“The people showed, I don’t exactly know what it was, but they weren’t always happy in the past with the way Liverpool, the club and the city, were dealt with.”
After the coronation of King Charles in 2023, the anthem was played at Anfield after the Premier League suggested that all clubs mark the new monarch’s ascent to the throne. After it was booed, Liverpool issued a statement, saying: “The Premier League had advised clubs to play God Save the King before kick-off, but did not make it compulsory.
“It is a personal choice how those at Anfield mark this occasion and we know some supporters have strong views on it.”
