Jurgen Klopp hailed the return of supporters to Anfield as Liverpool thrashed Wolves 4-0 in the Premier League on Sunday night.
The players and fans were finally reunited after nine long months, with 2,000 supporters in attendance on the Kop and the Main Stand for the visit of Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
While the stadium was far from capacity, it was a crucial first step to getting fans back at Anfield amidst the coronavirus pandemic, with a view to having nearly a full stadium by the season’s end.
The supporters’ effect on the players was clear from the off, with the full repertoire of songs being belted out by those on the Kop, starting with You’ll Never Walk Alone ahead of kick-off.
Liverpool ran out convincing 4-0 winners, with Mohamed Salah putting the Reds ahead in the first half before Gini Wijnaldum, Joel Matip and a Nelson Semedo own-goal sealed all three points.
Speaking after the game, Klopp hailed the presence of the supporters on what he called an “emotional” and “perfect” night for his side.
“When we came out for warming up we all had no idea what we should or can expect. When we came out we all had goosebumps, it was incredible,” Klopp said.
“When the people saw the first player then they obviously got quite noisy. The rest who were still inside thought, ‘Oh my God, that sounds really loud.’ Then you come outside and see not the real face but the group of people.
“It was very emotional, to be honest, after 10 months without that. It’s just a wonderful, wonderful sign. If none of my players tells me, or the medical department tells me someone is injured, then it was a perfect night.”
He continued: “They are [a part of us]. It’s nice that we could give them back a little bit.
“Look, playing without fans is difficult but watching football knowing you usually would be there is difficult as well, so we are absolutely in the same boat. It was really nice to have that common experience tonight.
“Yes, I get it, 100 per cent, that it felt like it is the first time because it felt the same for us. I had no idea what to expect, to be honest.
“Before the game, I told the boys we have supporters in the stadium today – everybody knew that, but I forgot it during the week, to be honest.
“To talk about it, what would be different and stuff like this, I didn’t know what would happen. But if it’s good then to use it. If it’s not good, we have to ignore it.
“It was outstanding, it was outstanding. Getting out of the dressing room for the warm-up, that was a proper goosebump moment. It was really emotional, during the game it was emotional, it was outstanding.
“It was so nice to hear You’ll Never Walk Alone again. How I said, if nobody is injured it was a perfect night.”
Slide through our gallery below for all the best photos from Anfield on Sunday.
