Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has joined club legend Kenny Dalglish in paying tribute to all those affected by the Hillsborough disaster.
The memorial service for the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives at the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest in 1989 had to be cancelled, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Today's service on the 31st anniversary of the tragedy, due to take place at Anfield, was to be the last one held by the Hillsborough Family Support group.
Players and staff will hold a minute silence and flags will be flown at half mast while Klopp recorded a heartfelt message for the club's supporters.
"Today is the most significant day for our football club each year," says Klopp.
"The plan was that we would be together at Anfield today, but this is not possible. The only thing we can make sure is that we are in each other's thoughts and believe me, you are in our thoughts.
"You have our thoughts, you have our prayers and most of all, you have our love.
"You'll never walk alone."
Jürgen Klopp has delivered a message to the families, survivors and Liverpool supporters on the 31st anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. pic.twitter.com/HMg7bGyyWn
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 15, 2020
Dalglish was only discharged from hospital last Sunday and is now recovering in self-isolation after he tested positive for Covid-19.
The 69-year-old was manager at the time of the Hillsborough disaster and attended many of the funerals himself.
Along with the 96 victims, he was awarded the freedom of Liverpool in 2016.
"This is a day when, first and foremost, we remember those who went to a football match and never came home – they will never be forgotten," Dalglish told the club's official website.
"But we should also think of the families and survivors who showed the rest of us how to deal with an unimaginable tragedy.
"By sticking together, supporting one another and standing up for what was right, they set an example which will always resonate, none more so than during the current time when so many families are dealing with tragedies of their own.
"Today, my thoughts will be with everyone who has suffered since April 15, 1989 and everyone who is suffering now.
"All we can do is carry on sticking together and finding strength in each other in the same way that the Hillsborough families and survivors have over all these years"
Current skipper Jordan Henderson also sent out a message to the Reds' supporters.
"Today was a day when, as a club, we were all supposed to be together at Anfield to honour the lives of 96 people who went to a football match and never came home," says Henderson.
"The fact that we are unable to do so will make this anniversary especially hard for the families and survivors of Hillsborough.
"I'm not one for making speeches but on behalf of all the players at Liverpool, I just want to let everyone affected know that you are in our thoughts today.
"As ever, we are together in spirit, even if we can't be together in person.
"You'll never walk alone."
.@JHenderson has sent a message on behalf of the Liverpool squad to all those affected by the Hillsborough tragedy, on the 31st anniversary. pic.twitter.com/8Pol1J0RA2
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 15, 2020
