A dedicated Liverpool supporter from Moreton, Merseyside, has earned the title of football’s unluckiest fan after failing to witness a single Premier League victory this year. Tommy McAllister, a 30-year-old letting agent, attended six matches that all ended in draws or defeats. Meanwhile, Liverpool secured wins in four of the 10 Premier League games played since Christmas—the exact ones he skipped.
The Jinx Extends Beyond This Season
Friends now view McAllister’s presence as a curse, with Liverpool fans urging him to stay away and Everton supporters encouraging him to watch, betting it guarantees a loss for their rivals. He watched Liverpool lose 2-1 to Wolves, only for the team to rebound with a 3-1 victory in a rematch he missed. His absence also coincided with Liverpool’s stunning 4-0 Champions League win over Barcelona in 2019.
Official Recognition via xJ Metric
Xbox collaborated with sports data experts Opta to develop the xJ (expected jinx) metric, which analyzes fans’ viewing habits against live win probability data. Nearly 10,000 supporters participated in the survey, and McAllister topped the rankings as the unluckiest fan.
McAllister reflected, “I’ve supported Liverpool my whole life, so it’s tough realizing I might be jinxing them during their slump. The stats prove it—I’m that unlucky. Everyone wants to see their team win live, but I should skip games to help them turn it around. Even my Liverpool mates try convincing me not to watch for a guaranteed victory.”
Desperate Attempts to Break the Curse
To counter the bad luck, McAllister has bought seven different team shirts this season, including a goalkeeper kit. He has experimented with rituals like watching from another room, switching chairs, or standing during corners. Despite this, friends flood group chats with messages like “Tommy must be watching” after conceding a goal or “Turn off the TV, Tommy!” during struggles.
Unlucky Streak Hits Everyday Life
McAllister’s misfortune extends beyond football. Living in Merseyside, he often picks favorite spots that later close. His go-to school hangout, Yum’s on Bold Street, shut in 2015. Replacements like City Buffet on Hanover Street (2022), Yard & Coop (2022), and Red’s True Barbecue (2019) followed suit. “It’s a running joke now—I’m afraid to name any restaurant my favorite in case I doom it,” he said. He keeps his spirits up, adding, “I’ve just got to laugh about it.”
In a loyal gesture, McAllister plans to stop watching matches altogether, opting to play on Xbox instead. Mohan Gehlot, Xbox senior global product manager, commented, “Tommy’s title as the UK’s unluckiest fan is a tough burden, but Liverpool fans worldwide appreciate his sacrifice. We’re rewarding him with an Xbox console and EA FC 26 to enhance his matchday experience. We hope he fares better playing as Liverpool than watching them.”
