“Enzo Fernandez Steals the Spotlight with a Defiant Gesture in Liverpool’s Guard of Honour”

“Enzo Fernandez Sends a Bold Message During Guard of Honour Ahead of Liverpool Clash”

Chelsea welcomed Liverpool to Stamford Bridge for their Premier League clash with a guard of honour, but some fans felt one Blues player fell short of the tradition.

Enzo Fernandez faced criticism from some Liverpool supporters on social media, who claimed he didn’t applaud during the guard of honour given to the newly crowned champions ahead of the match. Liverpool secured the title the previous weekend with a decisive victory over Tottenham, prompting Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca to confirm his team would honor their rivals before the game, which held significant implications for Chelsea’s Champions League aspirations.

Despite Chelsea proceeding with the tribute, which disappointed some of their own fans, a particular angle of the guard of honour appeared to show Fernandez standing without clapping. However, other angles revealed the Argentine midfielder had been applauding initially but briefly paused, sparking a debate online.

One fan commented, “Correct me if I’m wrong, but Enzo didn’t clap,” while another added, “Almost certain that Enzo didn’t clap.” Another shared an image of Fernandez with his hands at his sides, joking, “Enzo Fernandez was already plotting his revenge against Liverpool during the guard of honour.”

Regardless of the social media chatter, Fernandez wasted no time making an impact once the game began. Just three minutes into the match, he capitalized on a well-executed Chelsea move to score and stun the champions, who started sluggishly at Stamford Bridge.

Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville praised the quality of the build-up and Fernandez’s calm finishing, saying: “That is simply a beautiful goal. There’s a moment of brilliance in midfield, and Enzo Fernandez is the one to capitalize. Fair play to him – the composure to take his time rather than lashing at it was exceptional.”