It's not called the silly season for nothing, and here's how silly it can get: Everton manager Ronald Koeman this week had to redecorate his Christmas tree after fans complained he had dressed it in too much Liverpool red.
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The two major soccer teams in Liverpool have a fierce rivalry that has lasted more than 100 years.
Liverpool FC wear red, Everton blue, and fans were not amused when Koeman used social media to post a photograph of his Christmas tree, decked out in traditional festive season colours.
Astoundingly, the seemingly innocuous tweet prompted a backlash from fans: some tongue-in-cheek, others seemingly serious.
After his photograph was re-tweeted more than 750 times and received 150 replies, Koeman caved to public pressure and changed the tree to a mostly white colour scheme.
But he seemed a little bemused by all the fuss.
Koeman had already been out of favour with some Everton fans, with his team winning just one out of their past nine matches and preparing to face Manchester United this weekend.
