Kop out: Liverpool, Manchester United and Bolton refuse to wear poppies for weekend matches

Poppycock: Liverpool FC players including star striker Fernando Torres will not be wearing poppies on their shirts for Monday's game against Birmingham

Football's top two clubs stubbornly refused today to mark Remembrance Day by wearing poppies on their shirts.



Most of the Barclays Premier League teams will embroider the British Legion emblem on to their match day kit.



But Manchester United and Liverpool will play their weekend fixtures without the poppy that symbolises respect for the nation's heroes.



At the start of this week only 12 clubs in football's top flight had informed the Premier League that they intended to have a poppy on their kit to mark the Remembrance period.



After the Mail's sports columnist Charles Sale named the 12 - Arsenal, Birmingham City, Burnley, Chelsea, Everton, Hull City, Manchester City, Sunderland, Spurs, West Ham, Wigan and Wolves - Portsmouth, Fulham and Aston Villa immediately followed suit and ordered their poppy embroidery.



Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers quickly followed suit, admitting the 'Poppygate' campaign launched in Sportsmail was a key factor in their decision to join the majority of the Premiership clubs in honouring Britain's war dead and injured.



But Manchester United and Liverpool, along with Bolton, have defied public opinion and their players will not wear poppies for the fixtures that coincide with the solemn tribute to the nation's fallen.



The England team will pay their respects at 11am on Armistice Day next Wednesday in their hotel in Doha while they prepare for their friendly match against Brazil the following Saturday.

At this weekend's games Arsenal intend to auction their team shirts to raise money for the Poppy Appeal, as will Manchester City - where two soldiers will lead out the City and Burnley sides and 100 complimentary tickets have been donated to serving armed forces personnel.



Manchester United's decision not to put poppies on their shirts will be underlined during their live TV match on Sunday against Chelsea, a club that highlights their connection with the famous Chelsea Pensioners on Remembrance Sunday weekend.

Snub: Liverpool, Bolton and Manchester United are the only Premier League clubs whose players' shirts will not be embroidered with poppy badges this weekend

The top two clubs' excuse that the red flower doesn't show up on the United and Liverpool shirts have been undermined by the emblem being proudly displayed on the red shirts of Arsenal - and Premiership title contenders West Bromwich Albion are sowing a poppy on their red away kit for their match against Leicester.



A Manchester United spokesman said:' We are very proud of the work we do with the armed forces and we do not feel a poppy on the shirt would add to our contribution.



'Our staff and officials will be wearing them as usual and we are confident we are doing the right thing.'

A statement from Anfield said: 'Liverpool Football Club has worked with the Royal British Legion to help publicise and support the Poppy Appeal.



'A minute's silence will be held before Monday's live televised game against Birmingham City at Anfield and this will be preceded by two service personnel and a Royal British Legion standard bearer placing a ceremonial poppy on the centre circle.



'In addition, a ground collection will be held and advertising made available within both the matchday programme and on electronic LED pitchside boards to further raise awareness of the appeal.'



Liverpool said the team shirts from the game will also be given to the Royal British Legion to auction to raise money for the Poppy Appeal. Bolton Wanderers made no comment.