sport news After Luke Littler was jeered in Liverpool for being a Man United fan… what ... trends now
He's just 17 years old (you may have heard), but Luke Littler isn't one to shy away from the big stage.
Whether it be storming his way to a World Championship final or wrapping the crowd around his finger, the teenage sensation was made for the big stage and proved that once again in Liverpool on Thursday.
Littler romped to a Premier League night victory for a third time this season, despite being public enemy No 1 as he was booed entering the arena due to his connections to Manchester United. He wasn't shy to bite back, reminding Liverpool supporters in attendance that they had lost to rivals Everton on Wednesday night.
He has made no secret of his love for United, regularly mentioning his team in interviews, receiving invites to visit the club and even throwing a few arrows against some of his Red Devils heroes.
But who do some of the other top sports stars support? How big a fans are they? And are there any controversial controversial cross-overs? Mail Sport has picked out some of the best.
Man United fan Luke Littler mocked Liverpool's 2-0 defeat against Everton after being jeered
Man United fan Luke Littler mocked Liverpool's 2-0 defeat against Everton after being jeered
The 17-year-old threw a 180 to beat Maguire and Eriksen's nine-dart scores with ease
Rory McIlroy - Manchester United
Like Littler, golfer Rory McIlroy is an avid United fan. The World No 2 even revealed in 2023 that he rejected the chance to invest in Leeds pledging his loyalty.
In 2014, the Northern Irishman paraded the Claret Jug around Old Trafford after winning The Open, and can regularly be seen following his favourite side around the world.
'It was great,' he said of the experience. 'I couldn't wait and I was nervous at the same time.' He was also, like Littler, booed in Liverpool during The Open in 2014, which took place at Royal Liverpool.
McIlroy also recently revealed that he is keen to buy into United, saying: 'I would have loved to have taken 0.00001 per cent of Manchester United when Jim Ratcliffe bought in. If another opportunity comes my way I will look at it.'
The 34-year-old also follows North Ireland internationally and recorded a message of encouragement for the side ahead of their participation in Euro 2016.
'The Green and White Army are at the European Championship at last,' he said in the video after his side qualified for the tournament for the first time ever. 'We are so proud of you boys, good luck and dare to dream. Come on Northern Ireland.'
Like Littler, golf star Rory McIlroy is an avid Manchester United fan and was booed at a competition in Liverpool
Ben Stokes - Tottenham
It may be a bit of a stretch, but Tottenham can officially claim England cricket captain Ben Stokes as one of their own.
Already a cricketing legend, Stokes rose to mainstream fame when he helped his side to a sensational Ashes victory over Australia at Yorkshire's Headingley in 2019, and was sent a Spurs shirt in return.
Some may have seen it as a punishment rather than a gift, but Stokes welcomed it with open arms and saw it as a deciding moment in who he would be supporting going forward.
'Never supported a club, always wanted to but never loved football enough,' Stokes wrote on X, then Twitter, accompanied by a photo of a Tottenham home kit with his name and number 55 on the back.
'My first ever football top was actually a Tottenham one, it was the blue and yellow kit with Thomson on the front. But after getting sent this I guess I'm now officially a Spurs fan.'
He has since deleted the post, so maybe his allegiance didn't last too long.
Ben Stokes announced he was a Tottenham fan after the club sent him a home jersey
He revealed that the first-ever football top he had was a Tottenham one in a now-deleted social media post
Sheamus - Liverpool
Former WWE Champion Sheamus has made absolutely no secret of his love for Liverpool, regularly donning their kit in public and, on occasion,
