gordondaviesmoustache
Well-Known Member
I find it hard to hate them because I’m good friends with some of their fans and those friendships were forged by a mutual dislike of united. One or two of them proper boys btw (I have some mental friendships, all things considered). I have friends who are united fans, but that isn't the founding stone of our relationship. Far from it.I totally accept that, it’s not the whole of Liverpool’s fault for that one disgraceful tweet.
But have you ever been in the lower tier of the away end at Anfield where dozens of kids in the tier above gob on the City fans below? While the dads and stewards look on and laugh? I have, a few times, it’s not isolated individuals.
As I said earlier, I’ve been to around 50 away grounds, and Anfield is the only one where I’ve witnessed racist abuse directed at City fans.
Liverpool are the only fans to my knowledge that have booed a player who was being stretchered off with a neck brace on, requiring 10 stitches.
They’re the only fans to my knowledge who en mass booed a player who’d complained about being racially abused.
The only fans I know of who essentially organised with the club and the police to arrange an abush on our team coach before a semi final.
These aren’t lone wolf, one-off bad eggs, these are mass participation events that a huge number of Liverpool fans have been involved with.
If Milwall fans had done exactly the same, everyone would be up in arms about it, calling it a disgrace.
But because Liverpool have such favourable press, the reputation of being a bit “cheeky” with the odd “lovable scallywag”, they get away with murder.
I think the fact the old “my enemies’ enemy is my friend” adage has also meant a lot of City fans have turned a blind eye to the reality of the behaviour of Liverpool fans over the years.
I also think the “reds under the bed” mentality makes it hard for some to see how any club could possibly be as bad as United in any context.
But again, going off my own individual experience, United fans have been hanging, pisstaking, arrogant wankers, but Liverpool fans have been a whole lot scummier.
So, I feel I’m staying loyal to those friendships by refusing to get drawn in too much. What some of their supporters did to our team coach though, was disgraceful. All I’ll say, is that behaviour does not remotely represent the people I know today. Can’t speak for some of them thirty years ago, mind.