Merseyside Police ready for Liverpool, Everton matches
The local police in Merseyside have declared their readiness for Liverpool’s Premier League matches at Anfield or Everton’s home ground.
UK’s football policing deputy chief constable, Mark Roberts, had earlier suggested that six matches including Merseyside derby and others that could help Liverpool, secure the title, be moved to neutral ground at the request of local police forces.
Liverpool is two wins away from securing the title in 30 years.
Merseyside Police’s assistant chief constable, Rob Carden, however, said that they had no objection to having any of the matches in the city.
“Merseyside Police is ready to provide whatever policing is required of us in relation to games being played at our Premier League stadia once the season restarts,” Rob said in a statement.
“In relation to crime and disorder, we have no objections to any of the Everton or Liverpool home fixtures being played at their respective grounds.
“We have a good working relationship with both clubs, and their fan groups, and are content that we can work together in advance of the restart of the season,” he added.
He explained further that when other safety conditions have been met which lie solely in the hands of Government and Public Health England and afety Advisory Group, the matches could successfully hold in the city.
“Decisions in relation to public health risk are made by the Government and Public Health England and ultimately the final decision rests with the Safety Advisory Group, which is chaired by Liverpool City Council in line with the decisions made nationally in relation to sporting events,” he said.
However, Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool manager seems unconcerned about his club winning the title when the matches are played at the neutral venues.
He instead said playing at a neutral stadium would be a special moment for the club and the league.
“In the moment for me whenever it will be, in an empty stadium blah, blah, blah, with all the thoughts and prayers and love from the people all around the world it will still be an absolutely exceptional day in my life,” Klopp said.
“Wherever it will be, I don’t know – we hope it will be at Anfield but we don’t know and that’s not important. I’m pretty sure that we can solve the situation here as well in Liverpool.
“We wanted to play anyway and now we are really desperate to play because we want to become champions on the pitch and it looks like we can do that,” he added.
“It will not be perfect but we knew for a while it would not be perfect so we are used to that. We want to have it and then we will see how it feels. I am pretty sure it will feel pretty good.
“Most of the people on this planet never have the chance to become champions of the Premier League. For us, it looks like we have the chance, so we take it,” he concluded.
