Liverpool announce plans to mark the Queen’s passing ahead of Champions League clash with Ajax as Jurgen Klopp insists fans ‘don’t need advice from me for showing respect’
Jurgen Klopp has full faith that supporters will respect the tributes to the Queen as the club announced they will mark her passing ahead of the Champions League clash against Ajax on Tuesday night.
The United Kingdom is in a period of mourning following Queen Elizabeth II’s death last week at the age of 96.
Premier League matches were postponed at the weekend but the Reds have been cleared to return to action in Champions League on Tuesday at Anfield, when they will hold a period of silence.
“Liverpool Football Club will mark the passing of Her Majesty The Queen at Tuesday’s Champions League tie against AFC Ajax,” read a club statement, released on Monday.
“Players, officials, staff and supporters will come together for a period of silence before kick-off. Players will also wear black armbands as a mark of respect.
“Flags at Anfield have been lowered to half-mast and will remain so throughout the full mourning period. The club crests on all social media platforms have also changed to black and white, representing the colours of the mourning period.
“Her Majesty The Queen visited Anfield in 1993 when she officially opened the Centenary Stand in LFC’s 100th year. Many of the club’s players and managers were honoured by the Queen, including Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Gerard Houllier, Emlyn Hughes, Roger Hunt, Ian Callaghan, Sir Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush, John Barnes, Steven Gerrard and, more recently, Jordan Henderson and James Milner.
“LFC would like to thank supporters in advance of Tuesday’s fixture for marking the Queen’s passing at Anfield.”
On Monday, Jordan Henderson and Niamh Fahey both attended Liverpool Town Hall and signed a book of condolence.
The captains of the men’s and women’s teams were welcomed by the Lord Mayor Roy Gladden and both let messages in tribute to the longest-serving monarch in British history.
Speaking ahead of the club’s announcement on Monday, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said that he’s confident that all gestures regarding the Queen’s passing will be warmly received by supporters.
There has been plenty of conjecture since the cancellation of the weekend’s fixtures about how Liverpool fans – who have regularly booed the national anthem at recent finals and the FA Community Shield – would respond to a show of respect for the monarchy.
Klopp said it should not even be a subject for debate.
“I think it is the right thing to do, but I don’t think our people need any kind of advice from me for showing respect,” he said.
“There are plenty of examples where people showed exactly the right respect; one which surprised me and I was really proud of that moment was last season when we played Manchester United around a very sad situation with Cristiano Ronaldo’s family (fans applauded in sympathy following the death of his newborn son).
“And that is what I expect. For me, it is clear that’s what we have to do. That’s it.”
Klopp has no doubt about the ability of the Liverpool fans to pay their respects
Klopp’s mother – also named Elisabeth – died aged 81 in February last year, but but he was unable to attend the funeral in person due to the Covid travel restrictions in place at the time, so he said he understood the grief people were feeling.
“I was really busy (last week), but still I am 55 years old and she is the only queen of England I ever knew,” he said.
“I don’t know her, but the things you can see she was a really warm, nice-loved lady and that is all that I need to know.
“Because of my personal experience not too long (ago)…It is obviously not about what I think but what people felt who are much closer to her and I respect their grief a lot and that is why I will show my respect tomorrow night with the minute’s silence if it goes through.”
