Ex-players hit out at 'guard of honour'

PETER CROUCH and Rio Ferdinand have both hit out at the guard of honour tradition for the Premier League champions, with the former Liverpool striker calling it ‘embarrassing’.

- By THEO SQUIRESECHO reporter

The Reds clinched the title last weekend by thrashing Tottenham Hotspur 5-1, and are due to be applauded by the opposition as they take to the field in their final four matches as a result.

Arne Slot’s men will receive their first guard of honour away at Chelsea on Sunday, with Arsenal, Brighton and; Hove Albion and Crystal Palace expected to follow suit in Liverpool's remaining matches.

But despite the guard of honour being a long-held tradition in English football, both Crouch and Ferdinand have voiced their opposition to it ahead of the Reds’ first match as champions.