Liverpool fans urged to avoid Anfield as Premier League champions host first fixture as title winners

Liverpool fans have been urged not to turn up at Anfield ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Aston Villa in a message from the city’s director of public health.

The Reds will contest their first home fixture since ending a 30-year wait for the title this weekend when they host the struggling Villans.

It is feared that the large-scale gatherings that have taken place since that success was confirmed will be emulated prior to the game, despite guidance around social distancing remaining in place.

Consequently, Matthew Ashton made a special appearance at Jurgen Klopp’s press conference to preview the fixture, in which he appealed for fans to stay at home.

He said: “Firstly I thank the club for inviting me here today, it’s a great example of the lengths the club’s gone to support the city in promoting the message that this pandemic is not over.

“On behalf of mayor Joe Anderson, councillor Wendy Simon, and the rest of the city council, I want to thank Jurgen and the club for the great leadership they’ve shown both on and off the pitch - we are lucky as a city to have them.

“Despite last night’s result, Liverpool are the English champions, the European champions, and the world champions. It is truly the greatest team in the world.

“Liverpool and Merseyside have been badly hit by coronavirus, we’ve had almost 600 deaths in Liverpool and over 1,600 deaths across Merseyside.

“I want to express the city’s condolences to all those affected, not just those that have lost their lives but also to their family and friends.

“This weekend, the NHS celebrates its 72nd birthday; thank you to the NHS, the care services, and to wider support services for everything they’ve done to get us through this pandemic.

“Thankfully, rates of the virus in Merseyside are currently relatively low, but we know that the virus still circulating in our communities and there are signs of some small increases in some areas.

“We’ve also seen outbreaks elsewhere in the country, so now is not the time for any of us to be complacent.

“I want to thank the overwhelming majority of fans and residents of this great city who have listened to our public health messages over the last three to four months.

“And I can remind everybody that those messages still stand: Wash your hands, practise good hand hygiene at all times, keep your distance, 2m at all times if possible and if it’s not possible 1m but with face coverings in place.

“Avoid crowds, they have the potential for the virus to spread much more easily. And if you’re not well, stay at home and get tested through the NHS test and trace programme.

“This Sunday and for the rest of the season, I’m asking everybody to stay at home and watch the match with your loved ones. We can have a big party when this is all over, but that time is not now. Be kind, be safe, be responsible.”

Jurgen Klopp went on to echo those sentiments, calling for supporters to show the ‘discipline’ that has helped turn the tide against coronavirus in recent months.

He said: “I could not have said it better. We have to show responsibility still, we have to show that we are different in the best understanding. That if we have to do something for the good of our loved ones, that we will do it, 100 per cent.

“We proved that so often and we have to prove it still and especially now. This is the biggest challenge for all of us in all of our lives.
“Even when it looks like at times that things are easing up a little bit, it’s true, but on the other side it’s only because we have been so disciplined in the past and that is how we have to stay.”

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