That’s debateable,some folk think that name belongs to Arsenal.
Personally, after the whinging and whining we had from Moansfield after one visit to us, I think it belongs to them.
Those are the sanitised ones they use on the telly - not what rival fans call them which is:
Arsenal are the Gunners - which is changed to Gooners (also Plumstead pikies - but that’s really only a Spurs thing)
Birmingham are the Blues - “Zulus” (from their old badge)
Chelsea are The Blues [Chelski has become popular] as has Chavski. Use to be “Cluehunters”
Crystal Palace are the Eagles - originally they were the Glaziers
Fulham are the Cottagers - which also has a great double meaning (also referred to as Foolham)
Liverpool are the Reds - Bin Dippers
Manchester City are The Citizens [not sure about this one] “Blues” or “Mancs” usuallly as it is assumed they will actually come from Manchester - not Singapore like the other lot
Manchester Utd are the Red Devils - Surrey United
Middlesborough are plain old Boro - Smogmonsters or Smoggies
Newcastle are the Magpies - “Toon”
Portsmouth are Pompey - “Skates” to saints fans
Southampton are the Saints - “Scummers” to pompey fans
Tottenham are Spurs - “Yids”
Scouser here, not that it gives my answer any more authority.
I was under the impression that it was indeed derived from Welsh: there is a particular kind of edible seaweed called ‘lava’ (as in Lava Bread, which is neither lava nor bread) which is a traditional Welsh delicacy. If it grew around the Mersey estuary in times past, one might see how the name arose.
However, these kinds of origins always strike me as being a little too convenient. Some mispronunciation of a more banal Welsh/English word (like ller or lifer as GM suggests) seems more likely in this respect.
Where’d the name Liverpool come from???
We nicked it!