Liverpool is set to begin their season following their triumph in the 2024/25 Premier League title, facing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. Chelsea's head coach Enzo Maresca has expressed his intention for the team to honor the champions with a "guard of honour" before the match commences at 16:30 BST.
A guard of honour is an informal ceremony held when a team plays after securing the Premier League title. During this event, the players of the winning club, in this case Liverpool, walk between two lines of opposing players who stand and applaud. This tradition can occur regardless of whether the champions are playing at home or away.
It's important to note that providing a guard of honour is not compulsory; there are no regulations in the Premier League that mandate this practice. Instead, it is a voluntary gesture of respect for the achievements of fellow professionals.
The custom of showing a guard of honour has seen some exceptions. For instance, when Liverpool won the 2019/20 Premier League title with seven matches left in the season—amid the pandemic—all seven of their final opponents provided a guard of honour.
The first known instance of a guard of honour in the Premier League occurred in May 2003, when Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United was honored by Everton after having secured the championship. Since then, there have been 11 seasons in which teams have participated in this tradition, with multiple honors for some champions. Leicester City received guards of honour from both Everton and Chelsea during their 2015/16 title-winning campaign. Manchester City has experienced this accolade four times following their title win in 2017/18, while Liverpool holds the record for the most occurrences during the pandemic-affected 2019/20 season, totaling seven times. Chelsea also participated in this recognition during that campaign.
There have been numerous memorable and occasionally awkward moments surrounding guards of honour in the Premier League. Notably, in the 2004/05 season, Manchester United applauded Chelsea onto the pitch for their first Premier League title, despite the rivalry between the two clubs; Chelsea went on to win the match 3-1 at Old Trafford. In a twist of fate, Manchester United received a guard of honour at Stamford Bridge when they reclaimed the title.
Another significant moment occurred in 2013 when Robin van Persie made his return to Arsenal after transferring to Manchester United. Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal players applauded Van Persie and his teammates, yet the home fans responded with boos. To add to the drama, Van Persie scored a penalty, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
Here's a list of notable instances of Premier League guards of honour:
- 2003: Everton for Manchester United
- 2005: Manchester United for Chelsea’s first Premier League title
- 2007: Chelsea for Manchester United
- 2011: Blackpool for Manchester United
- 2013: Arsenal for Manchester United
- 2015: Liverpool for Chelsea
- 2016: Everton and Chelsea for Leicester
- 2017: Watford and Sunderland for Chelsea
- 2018: Swansea, West Ham, Huddersfield, and Brighton for Manchester City
- 2020: Manchester City, Aston Villa, Brighton, Burnley, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Newcastle for Liverpool
- 2021: Newcastle and Everton for Manchester City
- 2023: Chelsea for Manchester City
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