..and there will be one every day this week to mark the big return
of ‘taking a knee’ in a specially arranged photograph organised around the centre circle to offer support to protesters who have
rallied around the world in response to the death of George Floyd.
Members of the squad then each issued a social media message declaring, “Unity is strength”, followed by #Blacklivesmatter, in support of the movement which promotes a strong stance against all forms of racism.
For Liverpool, it was the first time the team had been at Anfield since their Champions League defeat there by Atletico Madrid, in the last game to be played in the UK before the Covid-19 lockdown came into force.
Floyd, who was unarmed, died when his neck was knelt on by a Minneapolis police officer for more than eight minutes.
Derek Chauvin, the arresting officer, was subsequently charged with murder.
On Sunday, England winger Jadon Sancho revealed a ‘Justice for George Floyd’ T-shirt after scoring the first of his treble for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga.
And then yesterday Chelsea released a statement in support of the movement, saying in a statement: “Chelsea Football Club stands together with George Floyd and all victims in the fight against discrimination, brutality and injustice.
“As a club, we are committed to being a part of the solution, and we are joining our voice to all those calling for fairness, equality and meaningful change. Enough is enough. Together we are stronger.”
Manchester United pair Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford also offered support.
In an Instagram post, Pogba said: “I felt anger, pity, hatred indignation, pain, sadness. Sadness for George and for all black people who suffer from racism every day! Whether in football, at work, school, anywhere.
“This has to stop, once and for all.
Not tomorrow or the next day, it has to end today.”