Danny Murphy says guards of honour are ‘a load of nonsense’ and believes neither Liverpool nor Manchester City players will want one to happen when they meet this week.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds side will take to the pitch for the first time as Premier League title winners on Thursday night when they travel to the Etihad Stadium to face the team they deposed as champions.
It means that, as tradition dictates and as Pep Guardiola has confirmed, City stars will lead out their title rivals – including ex-teammate James Milner – and then applaud them onto the pitch.
It will be a moment Reds supporters will surely relish, especially after City beat them to the title last season by just a single point.
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Guardiola has confirmed his side will honour Liverpool in this way, and even insisted the Reds ‘deserve it’.
But former Anfield star Murphy is not a fan of what he believes is an empty show of respect and appreciation.
He insists he wouldn’t want to do it if he was a player involved in Thursday’s clash, and none of the Liverpool or City stars will want to, either.
AND, he says it’s outrageous world-class City ace Kevin De Bruyne will be ‘clapping for players who can’t even lace his boots’.
Speaking to talkSPORT host Jim White, Murphy said: “It’s a perception of respect, ‘the right thing to do’, the message you’re trying to send to the football world that when somebody wins, that you show respect and grace.
“The fact City will be doing it on Thursday will show humility, saying ‘well done’ to Liverpool and appreciation for their quality.
“I think it’s a load of nonsense!
“I don’t know where it started and why it started, I would feel uncomfortable doing it.
“I’d do it because you have to do it, but I wouldn’t want to do it, because it’s not done with sincerity.
“If I was a Liverpool player and United won the league, you know they’re better than you, you respect that and you’re trying your best to be like them, so they know you respect them.
Ally McCoist says Liverpool’s title win either shouldn’t come with an asterisk, or it should have TWO!
“The fans don’t want you to do it, the players don’t really want to do it, it’s all for effect and it doesn’t mean anything.
“Kevin De Bruyne is the best midfielder, probably, in the world, and he’s clapping his hands and giving a guard of honour to players who can’t even lace his boots!
“And if I’d won it, by the way, if I was walking through, I’d feel awkward. I’d feel uncomfortable.
“I understand why the powers that be created it, because it does give off the right message to those watching.
“But I don’t see the point.”
