Liverpool fans greet national anthem with chorus of boos on Coronation Day

Booing the national anthem comes as nothing new for fans of the Merseyside club who have performed the act for years as a result of their long-standing resentment against the establishment due to perceived Government attitudes towards the city dating back to the 1980s.

The club were keen to avoid playing the national anthem but felt they had been put in an impossible position as a result of the Premier League “strongly suggesting” the anthem was played.

Sources admitted they had taken a “tough decision” to play the anthem but believed in safe freedom of expression, even though they were aware the response would not be a favourable one.

Liverpool’s fixture against Fulham in the week saw fans chanting “you can stick your Coronation up your a***”, while manager Jurgen Klopp used his programme notes to wish King Charles III well.

After cricketers stood to observe the national anthem ahead of day three of the current round of LV= Insurance County Championship matches, the afternoon’s football and rugby union matches also honoured the King.

Premier League leaders Manchester City hosted Leeds at the Etihad Stadium, where the national anthem was played before kick-off as the players stood around the centre circle, while the big screen showed a symbol to mark the coronation.

Ahead of the games at Bournemouth and Tottenham fans were given the opportunity to watch the ceremony, as were spectators at the Badminton Horse Trials in Gloucestershire, where events were paused during the ceremony.

At the Recreation Ground, the big screen showed a message to mark the King’s coronation during the Gallagher Premiership match between Bath and Saracens, while the national anthem was also played ahead of the game between Sale and Newcastle in Salford.

Further afield, Formula One sent its congratulations to the King, with several teams displaying the coronation emblem at the Miami Grand Prix.

Sir Alastair Cook, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2019, was among those cricketers who stood to observe the national anthem.

Cook joined his Essex team-mates and opponents from Surrey, including England players Ollie Pope, Ben Foakes and Will Jacks, as they lined the boundary edge at Chelmsford while God Save the King played out to those in attendance.

There were similar scenes at the likes of Headingley, the Ageas Bowl and Trent Bridge, although some of the fixtures were unable to start on time due to rain.

England stars James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Jonny Bairstow were among the best known faces to take part in proceedings.

Charles, previously the Prince of Wales, has been a patron of Glamorgan since 1986 and they posted a picture of him holding a bat during a visit to Sophia Gardens.