Lee Dixon has recounted how there was very little atmosphere as Liverpool lifted the Premier League trophy at the end of the 2019/20 season due to unfortunate limitations from the Covid-19 pandemic
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JULY 22: Jordan Henderson of Liverpool lifts The Premier League trophy following the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield on July 22, 2020 in Liverpool, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Liverpool had subdued celebrations during the 2019/20 Premier League season(Image: Getty Images)
Lee Dixon has recalled how he had to try to create an atmosphere as Liverpool lifted the Premier League trophy back in the 2019/20 season. Under Jurgen Klopp, the Reds secured their first-ever title since the league's foundation in 1992, however, celebrations were cruelly cut short due to the global coronavirus pandemic.
Dixon was at Anfield for the trophy presentation in July 2020, which was held behind closed doors due to social distancing measures. And speaking on David Seaman's Seaman Says podcast, on behalf of Betway, he explained: "The last time they won it, I was there doing the presentation during Covid with no fans there.
"They set the press up on the halfway line and they were on the Kop getting the [trophy].
"We were all waiting for the interviews and me and Graham Le Saux, working for NBC, were standing there with these mics. And I said, ‘We're gonna have to make an atmosphere here.’
"So, we’re all trying to pretend there were fans there and do different voices. It was terrible. But you know, they deserve an Anfield reception. They certainly do."
As a result of the pandemic, the 2019/20 season was halted on March 13, 2020, and wasn't picked back up until June 17 – with the season being extended until July 26. However, upon the resumption of the season, the last nine games of the season were played behind closed doors to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
This meant that fans were unable to see Liverpool lift the trophy in the flesh. Writing in his autobiography on the eerie experience at the time, club captain Jordan Henderson said: "I wanted the fans to be there and I felt cheated for them but I felt cheated myself, too.
"The experience of winning this prize that the club had been chasing for so long wasn't going to be the same without them. I had to keep reminding myself how lucky we were just to be playing at all.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Lee Dixon, pundit for NBC Sport during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford on August 22, 2022 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
"You've got people dying, people stuck in the house for months on end and I'm disappointed because the fans aren't there and the atmosphere isn't better? Come on.
"You feel bad for thinking that. But Liverpool fans are obsessed with football and they had waited 30 years to win a league title and for them not to be able to be there to share it with the players was hard. It was hard for the players and the fans because it meant so much."
Despite lockdown measures suggesting that people stayed at home whenever possible, thousands of Liverpool fans flocked to Anfield to celebrate a 19th top flight title with one another on the evening that Liverpool were crowned champions – following Chelsea's 2-1 win over Manchester City on June 25.
However, the Reds finally got a real party after five years in the making at Anfield on Sunday following their final game of the 2024/25 season with Crystal Palace, which was broadcast live on Sky Sports. Liverpool wrapped up the 2024/25 Premier League title with four games to spare thanks to a 5-1 demolition of Tottenham on home soil last month, with their subsequent clashes with Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton and Palace coming as all but a victory lap of the UK with no real pressure on results.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JUNE 25: Football Fans celebrate at Anfield Stadium as Liverpool FC win the Premier League title after Chelsea beat Manchester City tonight ensuring Liverpool FC can no longer be overtaken on points on June 25, 2020 in Liverpool, England. Liverpool have won 18 league championships already with the last title win in 1989-90 under Kenny Dalglish. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
The roars could practically be heard from miles as Arne Slot's side hoisted the Premier League trophy on Sunday in front of a jam-packed Anfield, somewhat making up for the lack of an official celebration last time around. Players and staff will also enjoy an open-top bus through the city on Monday, with hundreds of thousands of fans expected to line the route and cheer.
The victory parade sets off from Allerton Maze at 2.30pm, before ending in Blundell Street. It is thought that the procession will last between three and five hours in total.
Speaking on the celebrations, Liverpool City Council's cabinet member for culture and public health Councillor Harry Doyle said: "Bank Holiday Monday is set to be a day to remember for the whole city, and with an event of this scale, a bit of planning goes a long way.
"That's why we've created a clear, easy FAQs, to make sure everyone has the key information they need to feel confident, stay safe, and enjoy the day in their own way." The Council has also asked people not to bring flares or to fly drones at the procession.
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