Why Liverpool fans always clap opposition goalkeepers

Yes, you heard that right

It doesn’t matter who the other team's goalkeeper is – Liverpool fans have had a tradition of applauding the visiting team’s goalie, dating back no less than 60 years.

The Kop at Anfield, which was built in 1906, has become one of the most famous stands in world football.

But what not many football fans might know is that the Kop will applaud and show their respect to not only their team’s goalkeeper but also the opponent’s.

If the visiting goalkeeper does not recognise the gesture, however, they are met with jeers by the Liverpool faithful.

Here's how the tradition started – and why Liverpool’s Kop applauds goalkeepers

While its origins are not completely clear, the unique Anfield custom has stood the test of time.

Unless a team turns Liverpool around at the coin toss, the tradition to clap the opposition goalkeeper usually happens at the start of a second half, according to This is Anfield.

Speaking about the tradition to This Is Anfield, statisticians Ged Rea and Dave Ball, along with journalist John Keith, said that it most likely began in the 1960s, namely with World Cup winner Gordon Banks in 1966.

Ball recalled: “I always remember the game after England had won the World Cup in 1966, Liverpool played Everton in the Charity Shield and then the first game here [at Anfield] was in the league against Leicester City.

“Gordon Banks was in the Leicester goal, and I think Shankly had sent him out early doors to take the cheers from the Kop and everything.

“But when he came out to face Liverpool, the Kop went absolutely ballistic. That was the first time I had ever seen the Kop react the way they did.”

Keith added: “Liverpool have always had a special place for goalkeepers. Their old telegraphic address, in Michael Caine language, was ‘Goalkeeper, Anfield’.

Rea said: “I always looked out for it, every game, because I would always be on the Kop and I would applaud the goalkeeper.

“It would almost feel as if it was totally disrespectful if a goalkeeper didn’t do it, and some of your biggest adversaries at the time would still respect the Kop for applauding.

“In the ’70s, if it was Peter Shilton, or Neville Southall in the ’80s, or Gary Sprake or even the [Manchester] United goalkeepers, there was always that respect.

“I always used to look out especially on European nights, some of them didn’t and then there would be the friendly jeering.

“Obviously the great ones, the great European goalkeepers, Sepp Maier, [Gianluigi] Buffon, goalkeepers like that did because they understood it, they got the history of Liverpool Football Club."

Rea and Ball agreed The tradition likely originated with Banks, while Keith stressed that ex-Leeds goalkeeper Gary Sprake would also receive applause in the 1960s.

“Some people say it did happen in the ’50s and ’60s, but I’ve spoken to people and they don’t really remember, but I certainly remember it was the Gordon Banks one”, Ball concluded.

What the opposition goalkeepers have said over the years

Most famously, legendary Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas received a warm reception from the Kop during Porto’s visit in 2018.

After the goalless draw, in what many believed would be his last European night at Anfield, he said: “I want to thank Liverpool fans for the affection they showed. They respect players a lot.

“I’ve spent a lot of years in this competition and coming to a stadium like this and being applauded like that is superb.”

Meanwhile, a goalie who has visited Anfield in the colours of Bournemouth, Sheffield United, Arsenal and Southampton - while never winning a game - also spoke of his respect for Liverpool fans:

“Liverpool fans are good. The Kop always clap, they always show respect to the goalie, or they have done for me at least”, Aaron Ramsdale said.

“And then the clap will finish, the game will kick off and you’ve got all of them screaming at you. They shout everything under the sun.”