Anfield comes to Fenway: Liverpool fans in Boston made the Champions League winners feel right at home
Jurgen Klopp praised Boston support despite a late loss to Sevilla.
Jurgen Klopp may have been unhappy with the result of the game, but the German manager was impressed with Boston’s fan base during Liverpool’s preseason friendly at Fenway Park on Sunday.
“[The] atmosphere was really, really, cool and a historical place playing at Fenway Park,” Klopp said afterward of the 35,654 in attendance. “I enjoyed it apart from the result.”
In a back-and-forth game that included an unusual amount of physicality for a friendly, Liverpool lost 2-1 to Spanish club Sevilla in the second of the team’s three-game tour of the United States.
https://twitter.com/brlive/status/1153096335324844037
Having already suffered a 3-2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund of Germany on Friday at Notre Dame Stadium, Klopp explained that he’s been disappointed to not display the better parts of his UEFA Champions League-winning team even amid strong U.S. fan support.
“We had a wonderful atmosphere here,” Klopp said. “The people here don’t watch too many live [Liverpool] games. I don’t like us to look like we looked in these moments, to be honest. I want us to show our best face.”
With an array of players missing after international tournaments over the summer (including all three of Liverpool’s starting forwards), there were predictable reasons why the Champions League winners failed to produce more in the game.
Yet the result aside, the spectacle of soccer at Fenway Park was highlighted by the pregame rendition of the song synonymous with Liverpool: “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” by Gerry & the Pacemakers.
A boss #YNWA in Boston ❤️ pic.twitter.com/jlvtyu4Kfq
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 21, 2019
Sevilla also appeared to enjoy the team’s time in Boston. Prior to Sunday’s game, a few of the players toured the home of the Red Sox and even took some batting practice.
🆕📺 @Munirhaddadi, @sergio_regui, Aleix Vidal, @SebCorchiaOff
and @Locampos15 at @fenwaypark. ⚾🔝#SevillaFCUSTour 🇺🇸 #WeareSevilla pic.twitter.com/eyLVn4jJaZ— Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) July 21, 2019
The Spanish side had a smaller contingent of fans in the ballpark, but made sure to note that they were the team wearing red socks. Grappling with what was essentially an away team crowd was good practice for Sevilla, according to manager Julen Lopetegui.
“We were in Anfield,” joked Lopetegui of the Liverpool-heavy support. “So it’s a big motivation for us.”
Liverpool now continue to New York, where the team concludes its American tour with a game against Portuguese side Sporting at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, July 24.
