Why Jurgen Klopp Got Rid of Liverpool’s Red Nets at Anfield

When fans take a moment to reflect on Jurgen Klopp’s 489-game reign of Liverpool, many think of the return of the feel-good factor or the success in the form of a Premier League title in 2019/20 and the Champions League the season prior. The change in Anfield’s net colour, however, doesn’t spring to mind.

Though, it was a decision that may have helped the Reds – who were something of a sleeping giant pre-Klopp – conquer the beautiful game in all forms in the late 2010s.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Klopp accrued a points per match ratio of 2.07 in his nine-year spell at Anfield – the highest (bar Arne Slot) in the club’s Premier League history.

Appointed in October 2015 following the dismissal of Brendan Rodgers, it took Klopp just shy of one year into his post to make the subtle change – but why did the German tactician, who is widely regarded as one of the best managers in Premier League history, insist that Anfield’s net colour change from red to white?

Inside Klopp’s Decision to Change Nets from Red to White

The German hoped it would lead to more goals for the home side

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Upon the opening of the new Main Stand at Anfield, supporters were proud as punch to see that Liverpool’s higher-ups – owners Fenway Sports Group, in particular – were taking care of the place they have called home since as early as 1892.

A 4-1 victory over Leicester City had the home contingent bouncing but a select few were more observant on the day, noticing that the netting on the goals were white in colour rather than red, which had been the case since August 2012.

The Thursday before their clash with the Foxes, red nets were in place as the first team held a training session at Anfield. But by the weekend, it was all change in terms of the net colour at both ends of one of the best stadiums in Premier League history.

Following his side’s open workout, Stuttgart-born Klopp and his entourage opted to revert the colour of the nets from red to white – but why was that?

The 57-year-old, commonly considered to be one of the best man-managers in football history thanks to his endearing personality, believed that the change would make the goals more visible in the players’ peripheral vision.

By virtue of many inside the 61,276-seater wearing red shirts, using white nets was expected to be more striking to the eye while in the thick of the action. He, of course, hoped that it would lead to more goals being scored by the home side.

Luis Suarez would go on to score 40 of his 42 Anfield goals with white nets, while they were in place during the memorable seven-goal thriller against Borussia Dortmund – so it’s safe to say that Klopp’s change, which was seen as minor at the time, was significant.

The Reason Behind the Red Nets

Brendan Rodgers restored the red nets when appointed in 2012

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Klopp, upon arriving from the aforementioned Bundesliga outfit midway through the 2010s, didn’t only inherit Carnlough-born Rodgers’ collection of players but his choice of nets, too. But what was the reasoning behind the now-Celtic boss’s choice?

LFC Museum curator Stephen Done, per This Is Anfield, recalled the story of Rodgers’ private tour of Anfield: “Brendan and his family were given their first glimpse of Anfield the day after he was unveiled as manager as part of a private tour of the stadium.

“At the end of the tour, we stood on the Kop and Brendan [Rodgers] commented that he always remembered the goals at Anfield having red nets,” he continued.

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As a nod to Liverpool’s tradition, having used red nets in the 1980s – a period that is ingrained in Rodgers’ memory of the Merseysiders – the Northern Irish boss insisted that they return upon his appointment in July 2012.

The 1980s were formative years for him, in terms of him starting to watch and play football, and he seemed to recall the red nets quite vividly. He suggested we bring them back.

As well as reinstating the red netting at both ends of the stadium, Rodgers helped to restore the oldest-surviving ‘This is Anfield’ sign – a treasured piece of Liverpool folklore – to its place in the tunnel after it was replaced by a shinier version in 1998.

But where are the nets now? The club simply didn’t bin them, but instead they were gifted to St Helens Rugby League Club – who won four Championships on the bounce between 2019 and 2022 – as a means of keeping them on Merseyside.

Between the West and North stands, the fabled piece of Anfield’s long and storied history is hung up in the corner of the Totally Wicked Stadium, a ground that is home to a trophy-laden silverware cabinet.

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