As the ready and raring-to-go Liverpool players stepped out onto the Anfield turf to a Guard of Honour courtesy of Arsenal, much was made of whether Myles Lewis-Skelly participated by clapping – and new footage has emerged to put any rumours to bed.
The Reds, in Arne Slot’s maiden campaign at the helm, managed to become the first Dutch manager to win the Premier League title – all that with four games spare and, as such, a number of teams are expected to present them with a Guard of Honour.
Previously, Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea were the first to offer Liverpool a sign of respect before Arsenal – who are set for a third successive season of being crowned the Premier League’s runners-up – were given the same duties and much was made of Lewis-Skelly's actions.
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'They didn’t even check, they just spread the lie as well'
A week before, the Anfield faithful fumed at Chelsea winger Noni Madueke for not taking part by standing and not clapping the title-winning Merseysiders – and the same happened ahead of Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal after Lewis-Skelly appeared not to respond.
It was believed that, while the rest of the Arsenal squad showed their respect ahead of the two sides locking horns on Sunday, Lewis-Skelly completely ignored his duties and, instead, was spotted clasping his hands as his opponents emerged onto the field of play.
arsenal liverpool guard of honour
Fresh footage of the controversial incident has now emerged – and one fan has taken to X (formerly Twitter) to set things straight over whether the teenage sensation clapped or not during Liverpool’s Guard of Honour ahead of their four-goal encounter.
“Myles-Lewis Skelly didn’t clap and, the problem is, as soon as a few people saw it – because of the things Jamie Carragher has said and because of the lies spread about his red card issues and his temperament on the football pitch, people believed it."
Insisting that those who were perplexed by Lewis-Skelly failed to double-check whether the accusations held any weight, he continued to suggest that Lewis-Skelly may have not been over the moon to clap – but, the fact of the matter is, is that he did.
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“They didn’t even check, they just spread the lie as well. He brings his hands out and starts clapping," he said as footage of the Arsenal starlet clapping played in the background. "Now granted, he’s not going crazy – why would he? What are people expecting him to do?”
The newly-emerged footage, however, clearly shows that the 18-year-old – widely regarded as one of the best teenagers in the Premier League right now – showing a display of respect for Liverpool, clapping alongside his teammates, Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey.
“He, there, is clapping. He’s doing it – there’s video evidence of it, there’s photographic evidence from multiple angles. Where and why did this lie start?”
In terms of the action, Slot’s men went 2-0 up within 21 minutes courtesy of Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz – but the second half was less favourable to the title winners as Gabriel Martinelli pulled one back in the 47th minute before adding a second in the 70th.
Lewis-Skelly, who made his senior Arsenal debut against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium this season, has since become one of the best left-backs in the Premier League. He's also, it seems, a fully-fledged member of the England set-up ahead of the 2026 World Cup.