Liverpool have condemned claims by the city’s mayor that fans will flout social distancing rules when football resumes.
Joe Anderson made the incendiary remarks during an interview with the BBC in which he described plans to completed the 2019/20 season as ‘farcical.’
Games are set to be played behind closed doors once the Premier League is given the green light to return following the coronavirus pandemic in March.
But Mayor Anderson argued that ‘many thousands of people’ would be descending on Anfield to celebrate the Reds’ first title win since 1990.
Although he said that Liverpool should be awarded the Premier League trophy if the season is ended early, Anderson’s comments have disappointed the club’s hierarchy.
“As a club, we are aware of and disappointed by comments attributed to Mayor Joe Anderson in a media interview which was published today,” read a club statement on Thursday.
“As well as a lack of evidence to support such claims, we would also point to recent discussions with Mayor Anderson relating to the possibility of any behind-closed-doors football, which concluded that it is important that key stakeholders across the city continue to engage and work collaboratively.
“In recent weeks, we have engaged with supporters’ groups who have informed us of their determination to respect social distancing measures and, in the event of a resumption of football being announced, we would continue to work with them and other key stakeholders in keeping with our collective desire to achieve this crucial objective.
“As part of our ongoing operations, we are in regular contact with the Mayor and his office and we hope these conversations can continue.
“In the meantime, our primary focus remains responding to the humanitarian crisis which continues to unfold and in particular providing ongoing support to various NHS initiatives and those experiencing food poverty and social isolation.”