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For a brief time in December, fans were able to return to Anfield in limited numbers, giving Liverpool a boost in the midst of a difficult season and perhaps giving a bit of hope to fans watching from home in the midst of a global pandemic that there was an end in sight.
It didn’t last—the fans in the stands, the boost for the players and club, or the hope of an end being in sight. Still, for a few weeks it was nice to see fans cheering on the Kop. Now, five months on, it looks like we will get to see it at least one more time this season.
Today, the club announced that they will be welcoming fans back to Anfield in limited numbers for the final game of the season against Crystal Palace on May 23rd, with Anfield permitted to open to 10,000 supporters. As in the autumn, tickets will be by ballot.
The club has been working closely with its city partners, Liverpool City Council, Merseyside Police, and Spirit of Shankly to create a robust plan which is in line with government guidance and prioritises the safety of the local community, supporters, staff, players and emergency services.
LFC has opened a ballot process to allocate the tickets available for this fixture. Supporters must enter the ballot before 8am BST on Monday May 10.
Guidance from the government only allows for travel across the UK, meaning the ballot is only open for registration to all supporters who live within the UK. This is subject to any travel restrictions should they be introduced.
Supporters must also be a season ticket holder or current official member with 19 credits from the 2018-19 Premier League season who have completed Fan Update and must not have attended one of the three games played in front of supporters in December 2020.
The 2020-21 season has not gone the way any Liverpool fan would have wanted, and more important than any football concerns it’s worth remembering that even as the situation improves in England, for many around the globe the coronavirus pandemic is far from over.
Still, we can’t pretend we aren’t looking forward to seeing fans back at Anfield once again, even if only for one game and to help send off a season that has been a very difficult one both on and off the pitch.