Full back Khalid Al-Shuwayyi scored the only goal of the game in the Saudi capital to hand defeat to Steven Gerrard’s side and leave them seventh in the table after ten games of the 2023/24 season.
However, defeat was not the real humiliation for Al Ettifaq, who are of course captained by Jordan Henderson.
The real sting was that, despite fronting a team containing Henderson, as well as former Liverpool teammate Gini Wijnaldum and ex-Premier League star Demarai Gray, only 696 fans were reported as in attendance at the 22,000-capacity Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium for the game.
Earlier this season, just 976 fans turned up to see former Celtic man Moussa Dembele score in a 3-1 win for Al Ettifaq away at Abha.
For comparison, 1,124 went to see Marine 2-1 Lancaster in the Northern Premier League (England’s seventh tier) on the same weekend.
Things have been somewhat better at home for Gerrard, Henderson and co. According to Transfermarkt, Al Ettifaq have averaged just over 7,000 at the 26,000-capacity Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam, so far this season – slightly under the league average of 8,400.
Though Pro League bit hitters like Al Ittihad, Al Hilal and Al Ahli regularly get over 20,000 spectators in through the doors, the crowds (or lack thereof) for Al Ettifaq are a far cry from those experienced by the ex-Liverpool stars in their Anfield heydays.
The manner and destination of Henderson’s exit over the summer left a bitter taste for many Liverpool fans and the idea that the former Reds captain moved to the Saudi Pro League for purely footballing reasons appears laughable.
