Liverpool homing in on glory
LIVERPOOL have been given a glimmer of hope that they could still win their first league crown in 30 years at Anfield.
Fears were growing that a potential title-winning match could be played in Manchester due to the push for some big games to be staged at neutral venues over safety concerns.
But Merseyside Police confirmed last night that they will not stand in the way of Premier League games being played in Liverpool once the season resumes next month.
They will still need the green light from the local Safety Advisory Group, who will base their decision on Government and Public Health England advice, but it is welcome news for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Top-flight football is due to return on June 17 but six fixtures have been suggested for neutral venues by deputy
chief constable Mark Roberts of South Yorkshire Police, the UK’s football policing lead, as they are high risk [of drawing a crowd].
The Merseyside derby on the first weekend is one, as is Liverpool’s title-winning game if it is due to be at Anfield. Klopp is confident fans would stay away if the Reds did clinch the title at home.
But he is not bothered if they finally win the trophy at another ground.
He said: “We have the best fans in the world so now we can have the best stay-at-home fans in the world. There’s a 50 per cent chance of not becoming champion in your own stadium anyway. Who cares? It’s not important.”
Alternative venues also being considered for the Merseyside derby include Wembley, Villa Park and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The other games police hold concerns over are Man City v Liverpool, Man City v Newcastle,
Man United v Sheffield United and Newcastle v Liverpool. It means police seem happy to allow Tottenham’s home clash with bitter rivals Arsenal to go ahead in London as planned next month.
Premier League bosses will meet with the Government and police next week to decide which neutral venues will be used when the season restarts.