Liverpool fans boo national anthem ahead of Chelsea Carabao Cup final

Liverpool fans were heard booing the national anthem prior to their Carabao Cup final clash with Chelsea on Sunday.

The Reds go into the game as favourites to lift the trophy, with Jurgen Klopp's side firing on all cylinders as they look to gave the 56-year-old a dream farewell.

Prior to kick off, the national anthem was belted out at Wembley.

And there were audible jeers and boos from Liverpool fans inside the famous stadium.

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Supporters of the club have a long-held opposition towards the establishment.

Fans in the 1980s would regularly boo the national anthem at sporting events during the Conservative government's rule.

Their animosity deepened following the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, with 97 fans tragically losing their lives in Sheffield.

Liverpool fans have continued to make their feelings clear in the years that have followed.

They previously booed the anthem on the day of King Charles III's coronation, with the club playing the song despite knowing the likely backlash it would spark.

Liverpool are looking to win all four competitions they're in this season, starting with today's match.

And Klopp wants his players to be 'greedy' as they look to secure the prize for the second time in three years.

"I almost want to have a team that's really greedy on the competition," he said.

"It makes sense you bring in fresh legs and fresh minds as well who really want to go for that and win this specific football game more than anything else in their life.

"That's why it worked out now. Three years, two Carabao Cup finals, it's not bad."

He added: "In the [first season] we had a lot of games with Europa League group stages and you have to rotate.

"Where can you? You want to win the game but you need to rest players and give opportunities to others.

"Two years ago when we won both [the FA Cup and Carabao Cup], it's really special.

"You cannot go to the final if you don't use the boys. It's not possible.

"We arrived here and played all competitions. The first season we had 63, 64 games.

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"So all these young kids started immediately and we qualified for two finals.

"Brad Smith, Connor Randall… I'm still in contact with Pedro Chirivella playing in Nantes… and they helped us so much from the start.

"The outstanding ones, Trent [Alexander-Arnold] coming through, Curtis [Jones] coming through, Conor [Bradley], Jarell [Quansah], Caoimhin [Kelleher]… that's wonderful now we can have a decent team with these kids and go - not for the world championship - but we can win football games with it. That's really pleasing."

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Liverpool previously beat Chelsea in the final of the Carabao Cup in 2022.

They needed penalties to get the job done after a forgettable goalless draw in the capital.

If Liverpool win today, they'll become the first side to win the Carabao Cup on 10 separate occasions.

Chelsea, in comparison, have lifted the trophy five times.