The match had barely kicked off when Ryan Gravenberch threaded a precise pass into the path of Ekitike, who finished clinically past West Ham goalkeeper Mads Hermansen with a deflected effort to make it 1-0 after just four minutes. The Frenchman, in fine form this season with his 16th goal of the campaign, celebrated by pointing to the Kop—where a new banner honoring him had been unfurled pre-match—drawing roars from the home faithful.
But the Hammers supporters, packed into the Anfield Road End, responded almost immediately with a provocative display of their own. Photos and videos quickly circulated showing a large banner unfurled among the traveling West Ham contingent. While exact wording varies slightly in early reports (with some sources blurring details for sensitivity), the banner appeared to reference historical rivalries, recent off-field controversies, or pointed jabs at Liverpool’s ownership, fanbase, or past events—elements that many deemed crossing into highly inflammatory territory.
The banner’s content sparked immediate outrage and widespread debate across social media platforms. Liverpool fans condemned it as “disgraceful” and “unacceptable,” with calls for the club and authorities to investigate potential breaches of stadium regulations or hate speech guidelines. West Ham supporters were divided: some defended it as passionate banter or a legitimate protest, while others distanced themselves, labeling it “embarrassing” and counterproductive amid their side’s relegation scrap.
Pundits and commentators weighed in swiftly during half-time analyses. Sky Sports’ coverage highlighted the banner multiple times, with Gary Neville describing it as “completely out of order and unnecessary—football doesn’t need this kind of division.” BBC Match of the Day previews noted similar sentiment, emphasizing how such displays can overshadow the on-pitch action and risk escalating tensions in an already heated fixture.
The incident overshadowed what became a high-scoring thriller. Liverpool extended their lead through Virgil van Dijk (24’) and Alexis Mac Allister (43’) before the break, with Ekitike providing a key assist for the third. West Ham fought back briefly through Tomas Soucek (49’) and a late Julián Álvarez effort (73’), but Cody Gakpo (70’) and an Axel Disasi own goal (82’) sealed a 5-2 rout for the Reds, boosting their Champions League qualification push.
Yet post-match discussions focused heavily on the banner rather than the goals. Liverpool issued a brief statement condemning “any form of inappropriate or offensive behavior” and confirming they would review footage with West Ham and relevant authorities. West Ham’s club statement echoed similar disapproval, stressing that “such displays do not represent the values of our supporters” and promising internal reviews.
Fan reactions flooded X and forums: Liverpool supporters shared screenshots with captions like “This is why away fans get a bad rep 😡” and “Ban them from Anfield forever.” West Ham fans countered with “It’s just rivalry—get over it” or admitted “Too far, lads.” Neutral observers pointed out the irony: Ekitike’s early strike had ignited the game, but the banner ensured controversy stole the headlines.
As the dust settles on a chaotic afternoon at Anfield, the banner has reignited debates about fan behavior, free expression versus responsibility, and the fine line in intense rivalries. With the Premier League already under scrutiny for crowd incidents, this episode could prompt stronger measures moving forward.
In a day of goals galore, it was one banner that truly set the football world alight.
