Arsenal WILL give champions Liverpool guard of honour ahead of Anfield clash

Arsenal are expected to give Liverpool a guard of honour at Anfield this weekend.

Mail Sport understands that Gunners are highly likely to follow Chelsea’s lead and honour Arne Slot’s champions as they take to the field.

The mark of respect has triggered debate with some branding it humiliating. Ex-Watford striker Troy Deeney added that it was ‘a load of old b*****ks’.

However, it is thought that Mikel Arteta’s men, who at one point were the only side that could stop Liverpool’s title charge, will gather in two lines to applaud their rivals onto the pitch. The view within the club is that such a measure is a mark of sportsmanship.

Providing the champions with a guard of honour is not compulsory and there is nothing in the Premier League rulebook that forces other clubs to do so.

It has become commonplace, and in 2013 Arsenal applauded United onto the field in 2013 as Robin van Persie returned to the Emirates.

While their own title challenge is over, the Gunners remain in contention in the Champions League.

They face Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital tomorrow night, hoping to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit to reach the final.

On Sunday, Rangers declined to give a guard of honour to rivals Celtic, ahead of their 1-1 draw with the Scottish champions.