Graeme Souness has pleaded with Liverpool fans to respect the minute silence for Queen Elizabeth II ahead of their Champions League group stage game with Ajax tonight at Anfield.
Instead of the Champions League anthem being played ahead of the match, British clubs will instead have a minute's silence in respect for the Queen. Speaking on Talksport this morning, the former Liverpool captain and manager expressed strong views on anyone thinking of disrespecting the silence.
For any Liverpool supporter, for any football supporter to show disrespect at this time is unacceptable. Someone has died.
By showing respect, you're supporting your football club. If you show disrespect, you are going to damage the name of Liverpool throughout the world. If you love your football club, but you're not a royalist...then go there and think of your football club. Make no mistake about it: the eyes of the world will be on you tonight. If you show disrespect to our queen, that'll be portrayed as something that reflects very badly on Liverpool Football Club."
“For any football fan to show disrespect at this time is unacceptable.”
“By showing respect, you’re supporting your football club. Think of your club.”
Graeme Souness pleads with all football fans to respect the minute’s silence in memory of Queen Elizabeth II. pic.twitter.com/NCqzwCVVOo— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) September 13, 2022
There is a perception among some that Liverpool fans will disrespect the silence as they along with Celtic have been blamed by many for football being shutdown across the entire UK last weekend. The blame comes from reports suggesting Premier League bosses feared fans would disrespect the minute silence for Queen Elizabeth.
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Support your football club
The Scotsman hopes that fans of Jurgen Klopp's side will think of their club and prove the Premier League bosses' fears wrong. He argues that by showing respect, they will be supporting their football club by not allowing the name of Liverpool to be damaged across the world if booing occurs.
By showing respect, you're supporting your football club. Think of your club
Judging by his strong words, it is fair to say the 69-year-old is a strong admirer of the late monarch. This is exemplified by an act he did whilst he was manager of Rangers in Scotland. He thought that the old-fashioned dressing room at the club with its high ceilings was "crying out" for a portrait of the Queen.
“Rangers have an old fashioned dressing room, and it was crying out for a portrait of our Queen.”
“It is still there today, and I am proud that I was responsible for that.”
Graeme Souness tells the story of adding a portrait of the Queen to the home dressing room at #RangersFC. pic.twitter.com/9txu21rNlm— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) September 13, 2022
Last Game in September
Off the field issues aside, Liverpool will be hoping to get back to winning ways tonight against the Dutch champions. This will be their first game since the 4-1 trashing in Napoli as there was no Premier League games last weekend to show a mark of respect for the Queen.
This will also be the Anfield's side last game in September as their game against Chelsea at the weekend has been postponed due to lack of police resources surrounding the Queen's funeral. Expect Klopp to put out a full-strength side.
SEE ALSO: Jurgen Klopp Won't Give Liverpool Fans A Warning About Queen Elizabeth II Tributes
