Fan-tastic celebration
THE thought of Liverpool fans being unable to properly celebrate a first league title in 30 years leaves Virgil van Dijk cold.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced a Premier League suspension until April 3 at the earliest. There is still the on-going possibility of games being played in empty stadiums when top-level football resumes.
Kop hero Van Dijk is in limbo like the rest – and he feels sad for Liverpool supporters who were looking forward to getting their title party started before the threat to world health escalated.
But he’s promised Liverpool’s players will still make it special for them when normal service is resumed. “If we won it in, say, an empty stadium and the fans weren’t there I’d be gutted for them,” said the former Celtic defender. “Obviously if there are no fans at Anfield then it will be a bit of a blow – that is just a reality because nobody wants to play games without the fans.
“And I’d be like that for fans of all the clubs in the Premier League. Everyone who wants to go and support their team but can’t be at the game will find it tough.
“Until a decision is made on how we go on from here then we just have to deal with it.
“For now it is a decision that the Premier League has taken and we go with that.
“But when it happens we are still bringing the title to our fans – definitely. We all have to be sensible and deal with it with common sense. “If the authorities make that judgement then we just have to deal with it and accept it.”
With some health officials warning the Covid-19 crisis is set to peak in the weeks April 3 and last until at least June, it’s unlikely football will return to full stadia following the initial 22-day suspension.