Graeme Souness says Liverpool fans risk ‘tarnishing the club for a long time’ ahead of Ajax clash

Liverpool fans have been warned to respect the planned period of silence ahead of their Champions League clash against Ajax or risk ‘tarnishing the club for a long time’. 

Tuesday night’s match against the Dutch champions is Liverpool’s first outing since the Queen’s death last Thursday. As a mark of respect, the club have planned a period of silence to be observed prior to kick off. 

There have been discussions about how the Anfield faithful will react, after some fans booed the national anthem in recent finals. 

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has stated that Liverpool fans do not need any advice from him with regards to respecting the silence.

However, former manager Graeme Souness has pleaded with the supporters, urging them to show respect. 

He said on talkSPORT: “I personally would have liked something stronger [from Klopp]. It comes down to you’ve got someone who died, which is extremely sad for the whole nation.

“He’s got to remember, it’s the name of Liverpool Football Club that will be tarnished if anyone misbehaves tonight, if they show any form of protest.

“Liverpool will be tarnished for a long time to come.” 

Souness continued: “Someone has died, our Queen has died, show some respect. That woman was such a loyal servant to our country for 70 years. She was just a young woman when she came to the throne. For me, she’s been faultless. 

“For any Liverpool supporter, for any football supporter, to show disrespect at this time would be unacceptable. Someone has died.”

The 69-year-old have asked fans to think about the football club and to put any disagreements aside. 

Souness added: “If you are not entirely on side with what I’m saying, just think of the football club. Go there tonight and support your football club by showing respect in supporting your football club.

“If you show disrespect, you are going to damage the name of Liverpool throughout the world. That’s what you have to think about.

“If you love your football club, but you are not a Royalist and don’t share my sentiments, 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 will be portrayed as something that will reflect very badly on Liverpool.”

Klopp will hoping for a much improved performance from his players after last week’s horror show in the 4-1 defeat by Napoli.