By Jay from Marceltipool
I sometimes wonder about what really is ‘the worst-kept secret’, as the label is applied so readily. Despite this, the newly launched Liverpool home kit may be in the running.
Over recent-ish months, the 2026-27 primary outfit from adidas has gone from being rumoured to be nodding to the German supplier’s 1989-91 equivalent, to being mocked up with the same pattern, to being ‘leaked’ through, first, photos of fake versions, and then, in recent weeks, being spotted on sale ahead of the official unveiling.
Now it’s here in a bona fide sense, and it’s as subtle as a sledgehammer. Rather than seeing a repeat of the understated approach – apart from on the yellow version – applied to the 2025-26 Team Icon 25 teamwear designs bearing the reboot of the Candy-underlaying ‘lines and arrowheads’ patterning, the Reds will have a full-contrast effect, which, while no doubt tweaked and modernised on forensic inspection, appears faithful in style and spirit.
I’m surprised. While I don’t bemoan the retro influence on modern kits as much as some, I thought Liverpool might be bestowed with something that took inspiration but pushed the envelope. Perhaps adidas were all envelope-pushing’d out after the recent enlargement of the three-bar logo being followed by bulked-up stripes.
And that’s what adidas’s second first-choice strip of the current partnership is: a retro pattern combined with heavy branding. Those stripes are growing on me – the international kits amused my bouche – but I wouldn’t say I’m a fan as yet, and the break on the long-sleeved version is all the more jarring through stark disparity.
Still, the replica version of that is priced at £90, and that somehow seems good value in 2026 – especially considering the club shop has a training top on sale for £110 – but be aware that detailing only has a pattern-repelling zone of inhibition on the player-spec shirts, and that includes the eternal-flames-encased ’97’ emblem on the reverse.
The shorts and socks are fine, though I’d have appreciated a contrast panel on the former for the (in that case, red) enormo-stripes to sit on – are we doing 1989 or not? – and we get an actually quite nice new print style for the backs. Something to look out for in the Champions League next season? Light a candle.
Most interesting to me is the goalkeeper shirt that has also been part of the launch. Yes, the pattern is also essentially a direct lift from Bruce Grobbelaar’s wardrobe of pushing four decades ago, but somehow the two-tone green application to the custodian template from the brand with the three humongous stripes works, and is also the first bespoke example among the recent club releases. Take that, Manchester United and Arsenal.
I know why else I like that: because, and forgive this old man for yelling at a cloud, it is only available with short sleeves. Those stripes have really got me celebrating a goalkeeper shirt with no forearm coverage, such is their obtrusiveness.
The outfield kit isn’t so bad, but as a resurrection of the first Liverpool kit I was aware of, I would have liked more. Or maybe less. Regardless, if the design accompanies an echoing of the success of its inspiration’s first season, with a third Liverpool Premier League title being delivered, who’s going to moan about thick forearm stripes?
