In brief
After Arsenal and Manchester United drew 1-1, it appears that Liverpool will win their 20th league title in Arne Slot’s first season as manager.
When the two teams play at Anfield on May 10th, Arsenal might give the Reds a guard of honour.
The last time Liverpool had a guard of honour, there was a lot of back-and-forth controversy because Bernardo Silva refused to clap.
The Reds now seem poised to win their second Premier League title in five years after another weekend in which they grabbed all three points while Arsenal only managed one. With just one league loss in the Dutchman’s debut season, Mohamed Salah and company have been dominant under Arne Slot.
Prior to the 2024–2025 season, Arsenal appeared to be in the driver’s seat. They had been the “champions in waiting,” depending on Manchester City to falter, for the better part of two years. Liverpool, the 19-time English champions, have taken over now that City has faltered. The distance has grown to a daunting 15 points after Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United, leaving the north Londoners with little hope other than a mathematical one.
Slot’s stellar start will undoubtedly excite the Anfield supporters, but many people in England are much less thrilled about the Reds’ ascent to their record-tying 20th league title. Bernardo Silva, whose relationship with Liverpool supporters has been anything but simple—he declined to raise a glass after their most recent ascent to the top of the domestic football rankings—is likely among those who are least impressed.
When Bernardo Silva Refused to Clap Liverpool After 2020 Win
He was spotted drinking coffee in the last guard of honour
The circumstances surrounding Liverpool’s most recent crowning as England’s kings during the 2019–20 season were anything from typical. The COVID-19 pandemic left stadiums hauntingly vacant, so their victory was celebrated in quiet. However, they were so dominant in that bizarre campaign that they won the championship with seven games remaining, which left almost half of the league with little option but to present a guard of honour.
The majority of opponents were respectful, but Bernardo Silva wasn’t. The Manchester City midfielder, who is renowned for his sardonic demeanour and ravenous appetite for trophies, expressed his emotions rather clearly. Silva refused to raise his hands in acknowledgement as he was seen drinking coffee informally while his teammates reluctantly cheered Klopp’s victors. View the incident below:
Bernardo Silva was having absolutely none of that guard of honour for Liverpool 👏❌ pic.twitter.com/Be0lsk5OcZ
— Metro Sport (@Metro_Sport) July 2, 2020
Liverpool had the worst guard of honour against Man City after Jurgen Klopp ended their Premier League drought
Bernardo Silva can be spotted drinking coffee 😅pic.twitter.com/BdxGRungQG
— Futa Fiti (@FutaFitii) October 8, 2024
The 25-year-old even seemed to leave the line ahead of his City teammates at that point, appearing to head for the touchline before all of Liverpool’s starting players had passed him and their City counterparts.
However, Klopp had significantly minimised the importance of the guard of honour prior to the game, which saw the recently crowned champions lose humiliatingly 4-0, stating he wasn’t very worried about the gesture. According to the Daily Mail, the Reds’ manager at the time stated, “I am not sure if I’ve ever got [a guard of honour], but it was long ago that I won something in Germany.”
It’s not really a German tradition, but it is an English and Premier League one, and I believe we still had three match days left. Thus, we accept it; it is unquestionably a kind gesture. To be honest, I wouldn’t need it.”
A month later, Liverpool supporters exacted revenge by inciting the Portuguese man to have an online outburst.
Because to Silva’s rude behaviour, Liverpool supporters would be constantly searching for methods to retaliate. It was fortunate for them that an opportunity soon presented itself. Manchester City was knocked out of the Champions League, which Liverpool had won for the sixth time the previous season, less than a month after they refused to applaud the Reds.
Following the Citizens’ 3-1 loss to seventh-place Ligue 1 team Lyon, Reds fans wasted no time in criticising Silva online. Eventually, the deluge of remarks forced him to respond with a social media tirade of his own. He shared the following post with X:
“I’m also sorry for those of you Liverpool supporters who have no choice but to visit a Man City player account, but for the wrong reasons. pitiful Go celebrate your accomplishments, or look for a companion, have a beer with a friend, read a book, etc. so many choices!
And to all Liverpool fans that have nothing else to do than to come to a Man City player account, I’m also sorry for you but for the wrong reasons…😂 pathetic… go celebrate your titles, or try to find a partner, drink a beer with a friend, read a book…🤦🏻♂️ so many options!😅
— Bernardo Silva (@BernardoCSilva) August 16, 2020
It’s reasonable to say that Liverpool had the last laugh in their back-and-forth exchange with Silva during this feud, which occurred when Man City were allergic to victory abroad. However, it doesn’t appear likely that this ended drama will continue given the existing distance between the two clubs this season.
