Piers Morgan branded Liverpool fans 'pathetic' for booing national anthem as act repeated in Carabao Cup final

Piers Morgan once branded Liverpool fans 'pathetic' for booing the national anthem - with Reds supporters doing so again at Wembley before the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.

The Reds beat Chelsea 1-0 to lift the Carabao Cup for the second time in three seasons.

Virgil van Dijk's 118th-minute header secured victory for Jurgen Klopp's side, with the German visibly emotional after full-time.

Liverpool's squad was heavily depleted by injuries, with their bench largely made up of academy players.

When the full-time whistle blew after extra time, the Reds had five players aged 21 or under on the pitch, with forward Jayden Danns - the son of former Crystal Palace and Bolton midfielder Neil - making just his second senior appearance.

Before the game, the Reds booed the national anthem that is traditionally played before any English domestic cup final.

The reason for this is an 'anti-establishment protest', according to The Athletic journalist Caoimhe O'Neill, who explained: "[It's] something that is deep-rooted in the city, the socialism of the city and for those who died at Hillsborough."

The booing is 'not necessarily' related to the royal family as a whole, or any individual, but 'the establishment as a whole, this conglomerate of things that Liverpool fans disagree with'.

The booing also relates to the treatment of the city by the Conservative government, particularly in the 1980s when Margaret Thatcher was prime minister.

In May last year, Reds fans also booed the national anthem when it was played at Anfield following the coronation of King Charles III.

None of the Liverpool players, except captain Jordan Henderson, sung the anthem.

Speaking on talkSPORT after that event in May, Morgan said: "Pathetic, absolutely pathetic.

"If you want to make a protest about singing the national anthem, just don't sing it. Silence would have been just as effective.

"I love Liverpool, I love the city. I love the people and normally I love Liverpool fans - I think they're some of the best fans in the world. When they sing 'You'll Never Walk Alone', it's incredibly moving.

"They have always demanded, rightly, unanimous respect for them in issues that matter to them and the causes that matter to them, and they've got that.

"I just felt that they just let themselves down, and I wonder how many people in Liverpool are really happy that, on this momentous day for this country, a day of history, that they will be remembered for trying to ruin it. I don't know what they were trying to achieve."