Rock legend Eric Clapton BOOED for Jurgen Klopp tribute at Liverpool concert

Rock superstar Eric Clapton paid a touching tribute to outgoing Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp during his concert at the city’s M&S Bank Arena on Saturday night. 

Clapton, 79, is currently on a nine-date UK tour, the second of which took him to the banks of the Mersey last weekend. 

The acclaimed guitarist ran through a selection of his top hits and a few cover versions too. The concert included an intimate acoustic portion, with ‘Slowhand’ captivating the 11,000-strong audience with his unique style of playing. 

At one stage the former Cream frontman picked the opening bars of the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein show tune You’ll Never Walk Alone, the best-known cover version of which was made by Merseybeat outfit Gerry and the Pacemakers back in 1963. 

You’ll Never Walk Alone was quickly adopted as Liverpool’s matchday anthem, a tradition which stands until this day, and the song’s title even appears in the club’s coat of arms. 

In a city divided by football, between Liverpool and Everton fans, it was perhaps a risky move for Clapton to try on Saturday night, and so it proved with some of the audience BOOING the music legend when they realised the song he was playing. 

However, the crowd remained rapt by the sights and sounds of the beloved song for the brief rendition, at the end of which Clapton exclaimed: ‘For Jurgen!’ in reference to the soon-to-be former Liverpool manager. 

Klopp to bid Liverpool farewell at special event

Klopp himself will soon be on stage at the arena, as he waves goodbye to the city he’s called home for the last nine years. 

The German manager will bid a special farewell at a commemoration event held in his honour later this month. 

"An Evening with Jurgen Klopp & Special Guests" will be held on Tuesday, May 28 at the M&S Bank Arena and promises to be Klopp's epic going-away party. 

The night will feature live musical performances from local bands The Lightning Seeds and The Zutons among others, plus acclaimed tenor Alfie Boe will also sing live. 

Another one of Liverpool’s own, comedian and diehard Red John Bishop, will host the exclusive event.