In Matchweek 35 of the Premier League, Chelsea organizes newly crowned champions Liverpool on Stamford Bridge. Manager Enzo Maresca confirmed that his side will form a guard of honor to pay tribute to Liverpool. Statistics show that Chelsea has carried out this gesture more often than any other Premier League club.
Maresca said that Chelsea is planning to honor Liverpool with an honorary guard when the champions visit Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
“I think it's a tradition that needs to be maintained,” said Maresca. “It's the right thing to do and something we want to do.
They have won the competition – it is well deserved, and hopefully we will be in that position soon. “
Chelsea's Guard of Honor Record in the Premier League:
• 2007: For Manchester United
• 2016: for Leicester City
• 2020: for Liverpool
• 2023: for Manchester City
• 2024 (prospective): for Liverpool
What is an “guard of honor”?
An guard of honor is an unofficial ceremony that usually takes place when a team has protected the Premier League title before the end of the season. While the champions rise the field, players of the opposite team form two lines and cheer in a show of respect. This can happen if the game is at home or away for the champions.
Is it mandatory?
No. There is no Premier League rule that requires teams to perform an honorary guard. It is completely voluntary and is done out of respect for the performance of the champions.
Some exceptions?
The only variation in tradition came during the 2019-20 season, when Liverpool won the title to save with seven games. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemie, competitions were played without fans and forbidden health protocols of hand pressures. As a result, while the opponents of Liverpool formed guards in all seven remaining competitions, no physical contact was allowed- the only time that official restrictions were how the gesture was performed.
When did the tradition start?
The first documented Premier League Guard of Honor took place in May 2003, when Everton was in line to cheer Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in Goodison Park after United had been given the title. Since then, the tradition has appeared in 11 other seasons, with some champions received several guards.
Leicester City, for example, after their Fairy-Tale 2015-16 title win, was honored in Back-to-Back matches of Everton and Chelsea.
Manchester City received guards four times after their title Triumph 2017–18.
Liverpool, during the Pandemic hit 2019-20 -20 season, was welcomed on the field by seven different teams a Premier League record-record-under Chelsea.
Over the years, the gesture has produced both memorable and uncomfortable moments. In 2004–05, after Chelsea won their first Premier League title, former champions Manchester United – their bright rivals – formed a guard in Old Trafford, only for Chelsea to win 3-1.
A few years later the roles were reversed when United lived the title back, and Chelsea had to honor Stamford Bridge.
Perhaps the most dramatic honorary guard took place in 2013, when Robin van Persie returned to the Emirates after he arrived at Manchester United from Arsenal last summer. Arsène Wenger and his players applauded their former teammate – now a Premier League champion – on a choir of angry from home fans. To add to the drama, Van Persie scored a penalty and secured a 1-1 draw.
Premier League Guard of Honor Timeline:
• 2003: Everton for Manchester United
• 2005: Manchester United for Chelsea
• 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 City
• 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