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A Liverpool fan has revealed his dad's hilarious match ritual that involves a miniature gnome.

Reds supporter Liam O'Toole has a three rule superstition that his family and any acquaintances must abide by if they want LFC to score or win matches.

Liam's amused son Joseph, explained the rules and why they are so important ahead of the Champions League final on June 1.

The 25-year-old told the ECHO how the tradition of "You'll Never Walk A Gnome" began.

He said: "My dad's friend Tony bought him a gnome with a Liverpool shirt on for his 50th birthday.

"It sat on the shelf in the living room for a while but during one particularly difficult match it was brought down from the shelf for good luck.

"A few minutes after the gnome was brought down Liverpool scored so it then became a good luck charm."

Over the years the inside joke between Liam and his family became a superstition that requires rules and full participation.

Joseph added: "To begin with I thought he was just doing it to make us laugh and to joke around but then a couple of times I came home and he was on his own, watching the match with the gnome sitting on the table."

Here are the three all important rules that must be followed.

RULE ONE - Stroke The Gnome

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No matter who you are or how well you know Liam, if you enter a room with him and the gnome in it, you must stroke the gnome and say “You’ll Never Walk A Gnome”,

If you don’t and Liverpool don’t win, it’s your fault according to 25-year-old Joseph.

Joseph said: "When my friends have come over, or my sister's boyfriend comes in, before they are even allowed to sit down, they must stroke the gnome."

RULE TWO - The Offering

The gnome gets an offering of crisps before the match starts and more if a goal is needed.

Chocolate is then offered up if a goal is REALLY needed, and booze if the team are desperate.

Joseph said: "This was intro’d after some dodgy performances (Hodgson/Dalglish), and worked well."

The picture below was taken when Liverpool were in need of a fourth goal against Barcelona earlier this month.

Joseph added: "There are specific criteria of what crisps the gnome likes and this must be followed.

"Dad buys gnome supplies, hides them so that they don’t get eaten, and brings them out for the match (he eats them at full time)."

You can see how serious the offering selection is in the screenshot below.

RULE THREE - The Gnome Must Watch The Match

The gnome goes where Liam goes to watch the match and in the 2018 Champions League final, the pair watched the match in a pub in Scotland.

Joseph said: "My dad made everyone in the pub stroke the gnome before the match.

"We didn't win that one because the offerings weren't right apparently."

Liam also makes sure, that in the off chance he is unable to watch the match, that the gnome doesn't miss out.

Joseph added: "One time when my dad had an unavoidable family commitment, he put the football on the TV, put the gnome at home in front of it with crisps and left the house.

“Just because I can’t watch it doesn’t mean the gnome can’t.”

Liam, who is from Aigburth but now lives in London, has been a lifelong Liverpool fan and often travels with his sons Joseph and Calum, 20, to Anfield for match days.

Joseph said: "My dad is a die-hard fan and always has been.

"We were given no real option but to support Liverpool too and we have since we were very little."

The family have been up to Anfield six times this season to support their team.

Joseph added: "Football watching rituals are part of the beautiful game.

"Me, my brother, my dad, and the gnome will be in Madrid on June 1st for the Champions League final.

"We don't have tickets yet but it will be worth the trip anyway.

"If you see us come and stroke the gnome for good luck. #YoullNeverWalkAGnome."