Last Saturday, a rare event took place at Anfield when Burnley took to the field against Liverpool with a starting squad numbered 1-11 — the first Premier League team to do so in 23 years.
This is in an era when you are more likely to see a No.21 linking up with a No.37.
The Clarets were the first team to field a side in the top flight with only the traditional 1-11 numbers since Charlton Athletic in the second game of the 1998-99 season.
Manager Sean Dyche commented: “Another old fashioned thing about me. 1-11, who would have thought it?”
Unfortunately, the traditional numbers did not turn out lucky for the Clarets as they lost 2-0 to the powerful Liverpool side.
It might be an appropriate time to look back to the days when the 11 players on the pitch knew their place and always wore the right number:
The Goalkeeper: Nearly always had a moth-eaten green jersey,…
