University Scientists Show Liverpool’s Premier League Title Win was a Seismic Event
By Sports Correspondent
University earth scientists partnered with LiverpoolFC.com to record the seismic signature of Liverpool FC’s historic title-clinching win over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield.
Arne Slot’s side secured the club’s 20th top-flight championship on an unforgettable day, defeating Tottenham 5-1 in front of a packed Anfield stadium.
Researchers from the University’s Department of Earth, Ocean and Environmental Sciences were on site to measure ground movement from the crowd throughout the match.
Using state-of-the-art seismic equipment—the same type of instrumentation they use to monitor earthquake-prone regions like Chile and Italy—they were able to capture ground motions triggered by celebrations inside the ground.
Back in the lab, the team analysed the seismic signals and correlated them with specific moments of peak excitement.
The data revealed that the 60,415-strong crowd generated real seismic activity, particularly in response to the six goals scored during the game.
The most significant tremor was caused by Alexis Mac Allister’s stunning strike in the 24th minute, which put Liverpool 2-1 ahead.
It registered a peak magnitude of 1.74 on the Richter scale.
The second-largest tremor, measuring 1.60, followed Mohamed Salah’s goal in front of the Kop in the second half.
Cody Gakpo’s effort measured in at 1.03, the own goal from Destiny Udogie 1.35 and Luis Diaz’s initially disallowed equaliser 0.64.
The study was conducted by Dr Antoine Septier, Dr Farnaz Kamranzad, and Professor Ben Edwards.
While this experiment provided a fun way to connect science and football, the team were keen to highlight that outreach activities like this can help bring the importance of Earth Science – and its many applications, from green energy to building sustainable, resilient futures – into sharper public focus.
Earth science is crucial for a range of global challenges, such as understanding and mitigating natural hazards, and for supporting the global green energy transition.
Dr Antoine Septier said: “The experiment was an exciting experience, demonstrating that science can be both engaging and accessible to the public. I hope that our work inspires a new generation of seismologists and fosters a broader appreciation for the scientific process. Moreover, I hope that showing this data will spark innovative ideas for potential applications, perhaps even to enhance the stadium experience!”
Dr Farnaz Kamranzad added: “Who knew that football fans could generate seismic energy? This experiment shows us that science is everywhere, even hidden beneath the roar of a goal at Anfield! It is a great reminder that geoscience can capture the energy of human emotion in powerful and surprising ways. Incredibly, we recorded six seismic events with equivalent Richter magnitudes from 0.7 to 1.75. These were small tremors, not strong enough to be felt in the stands, but powerful enough to leave a clear and lasting mark at Anfield. Every cheer, every celebration, leaves a trace beneath our feet, a seismic fingerprint of collective joy, written into the Earth’s memory long after the final whistle!”
Professor Ben Edwards concluded: “This experiment gave us a unique opportunity to use seismology to capture a scientific record of the magnitude of Liverpool’s historic title-clinching win.
“Much like natural seismic events, these goals produced bursts of ground-shaking, triggered by the sheer passion of Liverpool fans. Their enthusiasm was literally powerful enough to move the Earth.
“We hope this work will inspire young people to engage with science and see Earth science as essential to building a more sustainable future.”
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