Fans took to social media on Wednesday night after claiming to have spotted a major Sky Sports gaffe ahead of the Merseyside derby at Anfield.
Liverpool secured a 1-0 win over their arch-rivals Everton thanks to Diogo Jota’s second-half goal to move another step closer to winning the Premier League title.
But it was what happened before a ball was even kicked that attracted the attention of a number of fans online.
As Liverpool’s famous anthem, You’ll Never Walk Alone, was sung around the ground ahead of kick-off, fans watching at home noticed that Sky Sports’ sound appeared to be louder and out of time.
This led to many insisting on social media that the broadcaster had used a pre-recorded version to make the atmosphere appear better than it actually was for the blockbuster fixture.
‘Have Sky Sports just outed themselves for playing YNWA over the actual crowd to make it sound louder?????’ one X user asked.
Sky Sports have been accused of playing a pre-recorded version of You’ll Never Walk Alone rather than the live version from inside Anfield on Wednesday night
One fan claimed Sky had made Liverpool’s anthem louder to pretend the atmosphere was better than it actually was
Another supporter also spotted the apparent Sky Sports gaffe ahead of kick-off
Another suggested it was now clear Sky had a pre-recorded version to hand
The atmosphere inside Anfield did reach fever pitch when Diogo Jota put Liverpool ahead
Another fan had the same thought, adding: ‘As if Sky Sports literally just changed the YNWA sound to make it sound better. Anyone else notice that or just me?’
‘Hahaha Sky got the YNWA speakers wrong,’ another supporter claimed.
The atmosphere at Anfield has been questioned at times this season, and one fan suggested Sky had done their best to help them out by using an old version of the club’s anthem.
‘Sky Sports proving Anfield does have a recording of the fans singing YNWA,’ they wrote.
Exactly how loudly You’ll Never Walk Alone was sung inside the stadium is uncertain, but there was a red-hot atmosphere once the game got underway.
The noise only increased when Everton defender James Tarkowski was arguably fortunate to avoid a red card for catching Alexis Mac Allister with a ‘leg breaker’ challenge early on.
Sky Sports’ studio pundits Jamie Carragher and Duncan Ferguson were both in agreement that Tarkowski should have been sent off but he was only shown a yellow card.
Everton threatened to spoil the party as they grew into the first half, with Beto racing through on goal before hitting the post.
But Liverpool took the lead in the 57th minute through Jota, and held on for all three points to spark jubilant scenes at the final whistle as they moved 12 points clear of Arsenal with eight games left to play.
