A Liverpool supporter from Norway proved his passion for the Reds – and shocked his mother in the process – by legally changing his name to include Anfield in his surname.

Now known as Axel Gogstad-Anfield, the sports journalism student in Southampton added the name of the club's historic stadium to his official title nine years ago.

Ahead of Saturday's match against the Saints at St Mary's, Axel told Liverpoolfc.com that the decision was something which makes him proud to this day.

"I come from Norway. I changed my name to Anfield when I turned 18 back in Norway, I've had it for nine years now," he explained.

"It was quite a spontaneous thing, really. I've always been proud of my name but I thought if I put 'Anfield' to it I'd be even more proud of it and I can carry Liverpool wherever I'm going."

The Barclays Premier League clash last weekend was Axel's first Reds away match but the Norwegian has visited the place he is named after on nine occasions to see the team he loves.

Axel altered his name without discussing the idea with his family and delivered a surprise to his mother by revealing his unique move over the dinner table.

He recalled: "When I came back home, I had dinner with my family.

"My mum said 'What have you been doing today?' and I said 'I changed my name to Anfield'. She said 'No, you haven't' and I said 'Yes, I did'.

"We went back and forth for half an hour, and then I showed her the papers. She said 'No really, you didn't?'"

Axel is confident that nobody else in his home country has ever taken such a committed step and joked that any Liverpool fan considering following his footsteps will have to check with him first.

"It was quite easy because I was the first one. If there had been anyone before me, it would have been much more difficult," Axel added.

"But since I was the first one, it was quite easy. It only took about a week."

And how do people react when they hear his name for the first time?

He said: "I get a little stick from Manchester United fans, obviously. When I'm in the airport in Manchester, customs give me a shake of the head - but it has been good."