Liverpool to play ‘You'll Never Walk Alone’ at Anfield despite fans' absence

Liverpool have held discussions with fans about making the Anfield match day experience as authentic as possible as they close in on the title.

And that will include You’ll Never Walk Alone still being played after the teams arrive on the pitch, and possibly the famous banners and flags which decorate the Kop in a show of colour and passion before kick off.

The club has engaged with supporter groups to try to ensure the historic stadium looks as much as possible like the normal Anfield, even without fans.

And in practice, that will mean trying to cover some of the empty seats with banners and flags.

It is important for the Reds, because there is a real chance their first game back at their home stadium after the Premier League restart, will be the one where they can win the title.

The club is painfully aware that nothing can recreate the usual Anfield atmosphere, and they don’t want to offer a parody of their typical match day programme.

But they are exploring ways to display some of the flags and banners which are synonymous with the famous old stadium…to give their eventual title triumph the best background as possible.

The club will use the Premier League’s specially designed stadium wraps to cover empty seats in lower tiers, but are also looking at giving the https://cdn.standardmedia.co.ke/images a more local, personal flavour by using some of the tributes fans are permitted to bring into the stadium.

The Premier League has also given permission for clubs to pipe in fan songs and chants at specific moments in games, most notably after goals are scored, and at kick offs and during substitutions in the games.

Liverpool will not pipe crowd noise into the stadium during the action, but they will use their anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone before kick off, given how massive their first game back - against Palace on June 24 - could be.

The Reds need just two wins to be certain of the title, irrespective of other results, and they can get those six points by beating Everton in the derby and following up with victory over Crystal Palace.

Clubs have also been told they can erect ‘fan walls’ which will see huge screens broadcast https://cdn.standardmedia.co.ke/images of fans watching from home, and celebrating when goals go in…which will give celebrating players a focus on the terraces.

There will be crowd noise broadcast on the live tv feed, to make the experience as lifelike as possible, and to try and create a ‘home advantage’ where possible.

Liverpool have now had confirmation that a safety certificate for games to be played at Anfield and Goodison has been signed off by the city council, and will be published on Friday. That means the derby WILL take place at Everton’s ground on Sunday.

The Reds would have a chance to win the title then, if Manchester City lose their game against Arsenal on Wednesday night.

The club will promote a ‘play your part’ message to supporters encouraging them to stay at home and watch the matches on tv. They will also provide far more digital interactive content on match days, to keep fans engaged.

Jurgen Klopp has already issued a call for Liverpool’s followers to be the “best stay-at-home fans in the world”, and the club will promote that message extensively too.