Jim White shares what Liverpool’s rivals have been told amid Celtic-Rangers ‘guard of honour’ debate

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Scotland and England have crowned their respective champions for the 2024/25 season.

Celtic claimed title number 55 last Saturday when they thrashed Dundee United, including Brendan Rodgers winning his fourth Premiership crown in Scotland.

Meanwhile, on English soil, Liverpool confirmed their 20th title when they beat Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield.

It has been a week of celebration for Celtic and Liverpool supporters, as everyone’s eyes will now turn to the weekend, and the rest of the campaign, to see how these two sides will be respected by their rivals.

Will there be a guard of honour on show? The Hoops have four Premiership matches remaining, including a tasty Glasgow derby against Rangers on Sunday.

Liverpool, on the other hand, play Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton and Crystal Palace for their remaining matches.

• READ MORE: What Barry Ferguson said about a Celtic guard of honour in 2021 gives clue to what Rangers will do at Ibrox

What Liverpool’s rivals have been told about the ‘guard of honour’ amid Celtic and Rangers debate

All of this is about whether or not Rangers will give Celtic a guard of honour on Sunday at Ibrox, and the reaction suggests not a chance.

TalkSport presenter Jim White shared that, in England, all four of Liverpool’s remaining opponents have been told that they will be ‘given the opportunity’ to provide a guard of honour to the champions of the Premier League, if they wish.

And, after growing up and understanding life in Glasgow, White doesn’t feel there is ‘anything untoward’ about Rangers giving their rivals a guard of honour.

“Big match in Scotland, they always are when Rangers and Celtic go head-to-head,” stated White. “This one is happening again. 12 noon kick-off at Ibrox Stadium.

“But, the backdrop to this is, Celtic have already won it and they have romped it. They are 17 points ahead. The title is there’s.

“Celtic very much going in the right direction, both domestically and in Europe, Brendan would argue. Certainly, domestically, they have blown everybody else out of the way, including Rangers. They claimed their 55th Scottish league title, and that equals Rangers’ total number.

“So, when it comes to the game on Sunday, here is a question for you. A guard of honour for the title winners. Would that be a rightful mark of respect for Rangers to show towards their great rivals?

“Just a point of information going into this, it’s anticipated in England, certainly, that all four of Liverpool’s remaining opponents in the Premier League will be given the opportunity to provide Liverpool with a guard of honour, should they wish to do so.

“I don’t think there is anything untoward, myself, having come from that part of the world. Even if I know what is at stake, whenever Rangers play Celtic and Celtic play Rangers. Would it be a decent thing to do? Yeah, why not?!”

When did the guard of honour first start?

Providing a guard of honour is seen as a sign of respect to the champions and your opponents for that season.

It’s not something that is compulsory for clubs, but it is seen as a tradition, especially in English football where it all started.

Manchester United were the first team to provide a guard of honour, when they did it for Chelsea in 1955, as the London club could now be providing the same for Liverpool on Sunday.