Why Liverpool changed the colour of their nets from red to white in 2016 and it worked wonders

Liverpool changed the colour of their nets from red to white ahead of the 2016/17 season after Jurgen Klopp and his backroom team made the request to Anfield's ground staff.

From the 1960s until 1994, Liverpool honoured the famous colours of their club with red nets until a group of players claimed they could not see the red-netted goal against the backdrop of the Kop.

The nets at Anfield were duly changed to white but almost two decades later, the distinctive red was restored on the orders of Brendan Rodgers, who wanted to embrace the club's tradition ahead of the 2012/13 campaign.

Liverpool's museum curator Stephen Done gave an insight into the chat he had with Rodgers at the end of his first tour of the stadium.

"Brendan and his family were given their first glimpse of Anfield the day after he was unveiled as manager as part of a private tour of the stadium," he told the club's website.

The red nets at Anfield in 2014. Image credit: Getty

"At the end of the tour, we stood on the Kop and Brendan commented that he always remembered the goals at Anfield having red nets.

"The 1980s were formative years for him, in terms of him starting to watch and play football, and he seemed to recall the red nets quite vividly. He suggested we bring them back."

Done added: "Kevin O'Shea (of the Liverpool museum) and I agreed. It wouldn't win us a game as such, but if it gave us that tiny extra advantage by making the crowd and the team feel better, then why not?"

The red remained for another four years but in September 2016, eagle-eyed fans spotted that the Anfield nets had changed colour for their Premier League clash against Leicester City – and it wasn't a coincidence.

Jurgen Klopp and his backroom team asked ground staff to change them from red to white in order to make them more visible in the players’ peripheral vision.

Klopp and his backroom staff made the request. Image credit: Getty

"With the majority of fans behind both goals wearing red, it was felt the previous coloured netting wasn’t as striking to the eye as white while in the thick of the action on the pitch," said the club's official website.

They hoped that the change would lead to more goals being scored by the home side – and it worked.

After bagging 33 goals in 19 home games during the 2015/16 campaign, Liverpool netted 45 times in 2016/17 – improving their shot accuracy, conversion rate and penalties scored, amongst other stats.

They also improved their league position as they finished fourth.

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