Jurgen Klopp hints at way he will vote over safe standing at Liverpool
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp seems certain to lend his vote to safe standing at Anfield after speaking about the pilot scheme on Friday.
A pilot programme offering licensed safe standing areas at approved clubs which are currently subject to the Government’s all-seater policy is set to start on January 1 of next year and run until the end of the season.
It is understood Liverpool will not apply to take part in this pilot, because it is already running its own trial with temporary rail seating in two areas of Anfield.
The Reds installed 7,800 rail seats in The Kop and Anfield Road Stand at the start of the season. Around 1,800 new seats at the back of the Kop and 6,000 in the Anfield Road Stand lower tier.
The club’s current trial is only designed to allow safe standing at particular moments of excitement in a game.
Liverpool FC made it clear in their announcement: “Supporters attending matches are reminded that Anfield is still an all-seater stadium and fans should remain seated when possible.
The Reds will then review their trial at the end of the season. And it seems pretty clear what Klopp’s thinking is on the matter.
“I think it’s a good moment to start thinking about how we can get back to where we were,” Klopp said on Friday.
“Football is really about atmosphere. Wall know that and the more people in the stadium, the better the atmosphere is.
“The more people, in the right position, the better the atmosphere is. I’m pretty sure the people on the Kop stand most of the time anyway.
“But it’s good that we’re talking about it again, that we might reintroduce it again. Test it again and I’m pretty sure the people are now responsible enough.
“I like the idea and I’m really excited about how much better the atmosphere could be at Anfield if we have safe standing. I’d be really surprised if it could be even better, but I hope for that, so let’s see.”
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Three other clubs keen
A blanket ban on standing has been in place for more than 25 years. Legislation was passed in the wake of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster which led to the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans.
Tottenham and Manchester City are among the clubs understood to be keen on applying for safe standing.
Klopp’s Aston Villa counterpart Dean Smith also cautiously welcomed this week’s news.
“I think it’s a good idea. Spectators should always have a choice of whether they sit or stand for a game,” he said.
“It’s been trialled at other clubs and seems to have been trialled really well. The consumers are the spectators and they should have a choice of what they do.
“If it’s been given the go-ahead from the Government then hopefully we can get it into Villa Park.”
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