SINCE Liverpool revealed their new away kit on Tuesday, there has been something of a backlash and the reaction to the kit has been overwhelmingly negative. The majority of Liverpool fans appear to dislike the kit, while the “modern-retro” design has been ridiculed by the media.
Liverpool’s £25m-a-year deal with Warrior began last season, and despite some controversy over the decision to replace the club badge with the original Liver Bird crest, fans seemed to respond positively to the new kits.
Though some eyebrows were raised by the purple third kit, there were few complaints about Liverpool’s home and away shirts for the 2012/13 season. The general consensus seemed to be that, for a company who had never produced football shirts before, Warrior’s Liverpool kits were a good effort.
The new home shirt for next season is similar to last season’s kit, but it is still distinctive. Warrior claim that the new home shirt was inspired by the kit worn in the 1983/84 season, when Liverpool won their fourth European Cup. The new away shirt is said to have been inspired by Liverpool’s 1981 League Cup-winning kit, but Warrior’s new take on that shirt includes a diamond print at the bottom, and this is what seems to be putting fans off.
The diamond print is also featured on the goalkeeper shirt and it is safe to say that both shirts would look far better if they were diamond-free, so to speak. But they would also look quite plain without the diamond print, and perhaps that is Warrior’s fear.
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Since signing a deal with Liverpool, Warrior have gone on to produce kits for Sevilla, Japanese side Sagan Tosu, Danish team Randers FC and Ecuadorian side Club Sport Emelec. The Michigan-based sports manufacturer are expanding in football, but they are nowhere near being able to compete with global brands such as Nike, Puma and Liverpool’s previous kit supplier, Adidas. It may be that Warrior are determined to make their kits more noticeable in order to make their brand more recognisable.
If this is Warrior’s plan, it is working – they have been discussed at length over the last few days. The problem is that they are being talked about for the wrong reasons, and if the “leaked” Liverpool third kit that has been circulating the internet turns out to be genuine, Warrior are likely to face more criticism and ridicule from both fans and the media.
Though I’m sure both Liverpool FC and Warrior Sports are aware of the negative reaction to the new away kit, they are unlikely to be too concerned and will be waiting to see how well the kit sells before they review this season’s design.
If the kit meets or exceeds last season’s sales figures, both the club and Warrior will see it as a job well done. If it sells poorly, hopefully Warrior will learn from their mistakes and Liverpool’s away kit for the 2014/15 season will be more aesthetically pleasing.
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Suarez is the best and the away kits are amazing