Liverpool mayor slams football fans partying a second night
Liverpool city centre is left strewn with rubbish after tens of thousands of fans gathered to celebrate title win and accidentally set fire to Liver Building – as man is stabbed to death at rowdy house party on Merseyside
- Liverpool fans left tonnes of rubbish strewn across the city centre after a party
- The Reds were crowned champions after Manchester City failed to beat Chelsea
- Many fans flocked to Pier Head in the city centre to celebrate and let off flares
- A man was stabbed to death following a ‘rowdy’ house party on Merseyside
By Amelia Wynne For Mailonline
Published: 16:55 EDT, 26 June 2020 | Updated: 06:16 EDT, 27 June 2020
Council workers in Liverpool this morning battled to collect hundreds of tonnes of rubbish strewn across the city after football fans celebrated winning the league for the first time in 30 years.
Tens of thousands of fans packed into the city centre despite warnings over the spread of Covid-19 to celebrate for the second night in a row.
The city’s iconic Liver Building was briefly set alight after it was struck by a firework, while a man was stabbed to death last night during a house party on Merseyside.
Hundreds of tonnes of rubbish were dumped by drunk Liverpool fans who were celebrating the club’s first league championship in a generation
Bottles and cans were strewn across the city centre as council workers were tasked in cleaning up the disgraceful scenes this morning
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson had pleaded with fans to go home because of the threat still posed by Covid-19
Meanwhile, a man was stabbed to death following a house party in the Dingle area of Merseyside in the early hours of Friday morning
The cause of the fire is not yet clear, but stray fireworks were seen hitting the front of the building moments before. Police later issued a dispersal order around the city centre.
Merseyside fire and rescue said: ‘We were alerted to a small fire on a patch of astroturf. Firefighters have dealt with the incident and the fire is now out.’
The Reds, who had to endure a three-month wait for glory amid the coronavirus pandemic, were crowned champions on Thursday after Manchester City failed to beat Chelsea.
Flames (left) were seen coming from the listed building’s balcony just before 11pm on Friday evening. The cause of the fire is not yet clear, but stray fireworks were seen hitting the front of the building moments before (right)
The fire – captured in footage shared on social media – has been confirmed by emergency services. It has now been put out
Liverpool fans began the 48-hour party after Chelsea defeated Manchester City on at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night, securing Liverpool’s first ever Premier League championship
However for a second night in a row crowds of fans flocked to the city centre to let off flares, chant and celebrate the title win, while ignoring social distancing measures.
In response the Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson urged people to leave the area because it is not safe and that the city has already lost ‘far too many people to the illness’.
And he warned that a curfew could be put in place as part of plans to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Firework-firing thugs have set fire to the Liver Building as celebrations for Liverpool’s league win go on for a second night
Mayor Joe Anderson has blasted Liverpool fans as they party for a second night. Pictured: a man holds a flare outside the Liver Building this evening
Liverpool fans gather on the Pier Head in the city centre after Liverpool won the League title for the first time in 30 years last night
The Reds, who had to endure a three-month wait for glory amid the coronavirus pandemic, were crowned champions on Thursday after Manchester City failed to beat Chelsea. Pictured are fans this evening
Joe Anderson posted a series of Tweets this evening sharing his concern for the amount of people gathering in the city centre
Sharing a picture of the busy scenes in Liverpool last night Joe Anderson tweeted: ‘There is clearly to many people intoxicated and causing anti social behaviour, around City Centre, Please I urge you leave the City centre now it is not safe.
‘Merseyside Police will take action against people not obeying rules Covid-19 is still a real risk.’
He added: ‘I am really concerned about scenes at Pier Head tonight. I appreciate #LFC fans want to celebrate but please, for your own safety, and that of others, go home and celebrate at home. Covid-19 is still a major risk and our city has already lost far too many people to the illness.’
For a second night in a row crowds of fans flocked to Pier Head in the city centre to let off flares, chant and celebrate the title win, while ignoring social distancing measures
In response the Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson has urged people to leave the area because it is not safe and that the city has already lost ‘far too many people to the illness’
In a separate Tweet in response to people who had asked him why fans were not being moved on he said that councils don’t have the power to do this.
He also urged people to message friends that are there to ask them to come home.
Official figures show Liverpool registered 544 coronavirus-related deaths up to 12 June and 1,677 cases up to 25 June.
On Thursday some 5,000 fans managed to surround the Anfield stadium before police sealed off roads leading to it, though they made no move to break up the party.
A handful of police vans and uniformed officers waited near the ground – though the celebrations were peaceful despite a lack of social distancing. A police helicopter was also seen circling the ground.
Sharing a picture of the busy scenes in Liverpool this evening Joe Anderson tweeted: ‘There is clearly to many people intoxicated and causing anti social behaviour, around City Centre, Please I urge you leave the City centre now it is not safe’.
Liverpool fans let off flares outside the Liver Building in Liverpool to celebrate their team winning
Official figures show Liverpool registered 544 coronavirus-related deaths up to 12 June and 1,677 cases up to 25 June
Manchester City’s defeat gave Liverpool a first title win since 1990, ending 30 years of hurt and near-misses after multiple second place finishes
Liverpool, who narrowly missed out on the title to Manchester City last season, have been in stellar form all seasons, losing just one match on their path to glory
Liverpool fans let off flares outside the Liver Building in Liverpool
The Mayor of Liverpool has told people out celebrating that they should go home to stop the spread of coronavirus
Fans are being urged to celebrate the club’s Premier League triumph at home as police believe more gatherings are planned after thousands filled the streets outside Anfield on Thursday
Manchester City’s defeat gave Liverpool a first title win since 1990, ending 30 years of hurt and near-misses after multiple second place finishes.
Thursday’s result leaves Jurgen Klopp’s men 23 points ahead of Pep Guardiola’s side with just 21 left to play for.
It is confirmation of what has been apparent for a long time, given Liverpool’s dominance during the campaign, of which there was further evidence on Wednesday evening when they thrashed Crystal Palace 4-0.
Liverpool, who narrowly missed out on the title to Manchester City last season, have been in stellar form all seasons, losing just one match on their path to glory.
Though the title had been destined to head to Merseyside because of Liverpool’s huge lead, there were fears the coronavirus pandemic would cause the season to be cancelled, potentially breaking the hearts of fans.