There wasn’t one Union Jack or St George’s flag in sight amongst the travelling Kop in the south stand of the Wanda Metropolitano, the host venue for the Champions League final, which, compared to the Tottenham end of the stadium, was quite converse.
Over the years, there has been a significantly visible disconnect between Liverpool fans and the England national team. With the inaugural Nations League taking place over the past week, the disconnect has sprung up once again, however, for me, it goes deeper than just isolated football and the 22 men kicking a ball.
The term “Scouse not English” has been a term frequently used by Liverpool fans to describe their overall apathy towards England. With the underlying identity of the city being completely contrasting to anywhere else across the country.
The 1980s was a pivotal era as there still remains a significant distaste towards Margaret Thatcher, who was the Prime Minister during the time.
The number of Union Jacks displayed amongst Liverpool fans in Rome in 1977 as they witnessed the club’s first European Cup triumph, compared to the number in Madrid in 2019, tells a story.
In my opinion, Liverpool is still treated like a second class city to a degree and you tell someone you’re from Liverpool and they make the odd joke like ‘don’t rob my socks’.
Liverpool have had more England captains than any other club, however, I find it difficult to get behind the national team and put my club allegiances to one side.
I’ve possibly become too invested in my football club, however, even when there are Liverpool players playing and scoring for England, I have little interest, and there are a few reasons why.
The usual stereotypical songs are still sung from fans across the country when their team plays Liverpool. ‘Sign on, sign on’, is still sung around football stadiums and used a direct hit towards the people of Liverpool, and its mass unemployment during the Thatcher era of the 1980s.
There are so many cultural and distinctive differences between Liverpool and the rest of the country. Even during the UK referendum of 2016, the city mainly voted remain, as throughout its rejuvenation process, now making the Albert Dock one of the largest tourist attractions in England, it has largely been dependent on EU funded projects.
Liverpool as a city has more in common with Dublin and New York than it does with London. Liverpool is an immigrant city, and its significant role of a large port meant that foreign travellers docked here commonly.
The media have also had a significant role to play. I feel the Sun’s cover-up of Hillsborough is one that has, and will, last long in the memory of Liverpool fans, and how is it even possible to get behind the same team as they do for the World Cup and European Championships?
Politically, social and geographical reasons highlight the ill feeling.
However, for me, football only makes the deepening divide more apparent and regular.
