Champions: Liverpool are due a guard of honour
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Chelsea will give Liverpool a guard of honour at Stamford Bridge following the Reds’ Premier League title win.
A 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham last weekend, coupled with Arsenal again dropping points earlier in the week, clinched a second Premier League crown for the Reds.
It secured the title with four games to go, and Premier League tradition sees opposing players applaud the newly crowned champions before each of their remaining games of the season.
Liverpool head to Stamford Bridge on Sunday, before welcoming Arsenal to Anfield. The Reds make the trip to Brighton in their penultimate game before hosting Crystal Palace on the final day of the season.
We have to do that, and we are going to do that. They won the Premier League, so. they deserve it
Enzo Maresca
As Liverpool continue to bask in winning their 20th league title, Blues manager Enzo Maresca was asked on Thursday if his team would honour the Reds with a guard of honour.
Maresca told reporters: “Yes. It's tradition. We have to do that, and we are going to do that. They won the Premier League, so. they deserve it.”
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He added: “It’s always nice to play in this kind of game, but I don’t think [Liverpool] will be any different or relaxed because they have already won the title.
“They are a very good team and deserved to win the Premier League this season. The gap is there, you can see clearly. My feeling is we are in the right direction and hopefully this gap can be smaller and closer next season.
“Perhaps the difference [between the sides] is that they have probably been a lot more consistent compared to us over the entire season. For parts of the season, we were very good. Then we lost some games and this is the main reason why. Liverpool did not lose many games in these periods.
“Also, in terms of experienced players who know how to win games and these kind of things, they have something more compared to us.”
Liverpool guard of honour from Man City
Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Liverpool were treated to a guard of honour during the final seven games of the 2019-20 season, starting with the Manchester City team who they had just dethroned.
It was noticeable for Bernardo Silva not clapping Liverpool as he stood with his arms to his side as others around him honoured the Reds.
City were the last time to receive a guard of honour, having won the title with three games to go in 2022-23. Their first match following their title win was the visit of Chelsea to the Etihad.
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