Liverpool fans urged not to repeat Anfield celebrations

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VIDEO SHOWS: LIVERPOOL MANAGER, JUERGEN KLOPP SPEAKING AT VIRTUAL NEWS CONFERENCE, MERSEYSIDE POLICE CHIEF CONSTABLE ANDY COOKE ALSO SPEAKING, RECENT FOOTAGE OF ANFIELD AND LIVERPOOL FANS CELEBRATING OUTSIDE THE STADIUM, FILE FOOTAGE OF LIVERPOOL TRAINING

SHOWS:

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 21, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MERSEYSIDE POLICE CHIEF CONSTABLE, ANDY COOKE, SAYING:

"This pandemic has not gone away and since the restart of the Premier League we've worked relentlessly with Liverpool Football Club, Public Health (England), and the Spirit of Shankly to remind people of the genuine dangers that this virus still presents. I know we've seen the relaxation of lockdown but you've only got to pick up a newspaper, switch on the TV to see that other areas of the country including the areas close to home are having to reintroduce restrictions following that rise in the number of COVID-related cases. I'm really proud of this city. It's no secret that I'm also a Liverpool supporter but my duty to the city and the communities of Merseyside will always come first. Yes there have been many large gatherings in other cities including illegal raves but that doesn't mean that we have to follow suit. Liverpool has always been known as a city that cares and comes together in a crisis. But we're still in that public health crisis and I urge people to watch the match at home or in the local pub if there's space but please don't put yourselves, your loved ones and others at risk of contracting this virus by ignoring the current advice not to gather in large groups."

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JUNE 25, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

2. LIVERPOOL FANS CELEBRATING AFTER LIVERPOOL WERE CROWNED PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS, ONE FAN KISSING THE CAMERA

3. FANS CELEBRATING

4. FANS

5. FAN WATCHING CELEBRATIONS

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 21, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MERSEYSIDE POLICE CHIEF CONSTABLE, ANDY COOKE, SAYING:

"We'll have a full policing operation in place at the ground and surrounding area tomorrow night and my officers will take action if people fail to adhere to social distancing regulations and potentially put other members of the public at risk. Both the club and the city council have said there will be a celebration when it's safe to do so and yes we collectively understand the desire to celebrate and to show the team our appreciation and have a massive party but now is not the time for celebration. We've waited 30 years so a few more months isn't too much to ask. Too many people have lost their lives already, so please let's work together to keep our families, friends and neighbours safe and please listen to LFC, listen to Mr Klopp and the players and trust them when they say that they will come for celebration it will come but that day is really not tomorrow. Thank you, Mr Klopp."

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL MANAGER, JUERGEN KLOPP, SAYING:

"I agree 100%, thank you very much for these words. It's very important that we remind ourselves again that even when somethings change obviously, thank God somethings changed but we are not through this and we have to make sure that we don't put anybody at risk. That's what we try constantly and that's what everybody should try."

8. WHITE FLASH

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL MANAGER, JUERGEN KLOPP, TALKING ABOUT LIFTING THE PREMIER LEAGUE TROPHY AFTER THEIR MATCH AGAINST CHELSEA ON WEDNESDAY, SAYING:

"I will be in best spirits. It's one of the... on a professional basis it's 100% one of the biggest, greatest days in my life 100% to get finally our hands on this trophy where everybody was waiting so long for and I think 2-3 years ago nobody thought it would be possible for us especially with all the challenges we've faced and the challenges we have and the competitors we have. So, yes, I will be proud I think. I will be proud of the boys and all that we did together in this club and it's a milestone 100% and as such we should see it. It's an important day, a very important day but... not the last very important day for us but we will be in very good spirits, 100%."

10. WHITE FLASH

11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL MANAGER, JUERGEN KLOPP, TALKING ABOUT LIFTING THE PREMIER LEAGUE TROPHY AFTER THEIR MATCH AGAINST CHELSEA ON WEDNESDAY, SAYING:

"So, tomorrow it's different, it's obviously different. We are now champions already for a month or so but it's not about that it's really about what we all do. It's a little bit like Christmas, if you know already before that you will get a specific present, before you have it, there is still some excitement and we are very excited, we are very excited about that. I've never touched a Premier League trophy for obvious reasons ever before so that will be special. I'm absolutely delighted that the boys have this moment because they deserve it more than anybody else. They deserve it because they've worked incredibly hard, they've dealt with so many setbacks in the last few years because this season... we didn't win the title... we won the title this season but we prepared it already since two, three years. So, it was a really long run-up to this moment and it will be 100% emotional again. How emotional? I don't know because that's how it is with emotions, you have to wait until you feel them."

12. WHITE FLASH

13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL MANAGER, JUERGEN KLOPP, SAYING:

"I expect a good game from us and unfortunately a good game from Chelsea as well and in the end we will see what happens exactly. It's not the easiest game I've ever prepared with a team to be honest because there are two things tomorrow night; usually I don't have to think about something else apart from the football game which helps me a lot because I can really be focused. I will try that and I know the boys will try that as well. In the end you only can win when we have 100% and we will see if that's possible tomorrow night. We have to go for something as well; it's not that we only are there and wait for until the party starts, we have to save our record, our home record and stuff like this there is a lot there for us as well, some targets."

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JUNE 25, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

12. VARIOUS OF KENNY DALGLISH STAND AT ANFIELD STADIUM

13. SHANKLY GATES

14. CREST ON SHANKLY GATES

15. LIVERPOOL FLAG

16. VARIOUS OF JUERGEN KLOPP MURAL

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FEBRUARY 17, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

17. LIVERPOOL PLAYERS JOGGING DURING WARM UP EXERCISES INCLUDING MO SALAH, SADIO MANE AND ROBERTO FIRMINO

18. KLOPP WATCHING TRAINING

19. PLAYERS SKIPPING DURING WARM UP

20. DEFENDER, VIRGIL VAN DIJK, DOING SQUATTING EXERCISES

21. SALAH PUSHING AGAINST TAKUMI MINAMINO

22. FIRMINO AT TRAINING

23. VARIOUS OF PLAYERS EXCHANGING PASSES DURING TRAINING

24. SALAH AT TRAINING

STORY: Liverpool fans have been urged by police and Juergen Klopp to not gather in large crowds on Wednesday (July 22) when the new Premier League champions will lift the trophy after their match against Chelsea.

In Liverpool's final home game of the season they will receive their first league trophy in thirty years and the Merseyside Police have warned supporters not to gather outside Anfield or in the city centre as the authorities try to prevent another spike in COVID-19 cases.

Liverpool won the Premier League on June 25 and thousands of fans turned up at Anfield stadium that night to celebrate the win. Merseyside Police issued a dispersal order the next day after crowds gathered for a second consecutive night at the city centre near the Mersey Ferry terminal.

Klopp's team are hoping to finish the season with an unbeaten home record but Chelsea need one more win from their remaining two matches to guarantee qualification for next season's Champions League.

(Production: Tim Hart)