Liverpool fans have been reacting on Twitter to recently emerged footage of the pre-match handshake at Anfield on Saturday.
This comes after Liverpool fan Twitter account @AnfieldWatch shared a post on their official page that included a video clip originally published by @btsportfootball from the match.
The footage shows the Liverpool team walking past the visiting Bournemouth team without completing the usual pre-match handshakes. This is a result of the Premier League’s recent announcement that the handshakes will be suspended due to fears of coronavirus.
Will not shaking hands make a difference to combat the coronavirus?
Yes, every little helps
No, it's pointless
This post then gathered a lot of replies from Liverpool fans who were keen to share their thoughts on the matter.
Here’s a sample of Liverpool fans responding to the post:
https://twitter.com/AnfieldWatch/status/1236281686868004864?s=20
As if handshakes was the only contact they’ll be having for 90 minutes in a football match ?
— AnfieldRoar (@AnfieldRoarr) March 7, 2020
It’s so awkward
— Mason (@Mason_1892) March 7, 2020
And they they shook hands and hugs at the end of the match!!
Ludicrous and stupid ?
— Mr.MonkeyChow (@MrChiChiRodrig1) March 7, 2020
stupidest idea
— iuan (@segundaaula) March 7, 2020
The decision was announced on Thursday that the fair play handshakes between the two teams and match officials will be suspended until further notice “based on medical advice” amidst growing concerns over the coronavirus. Now that the first instance of the absence of the handshakes took place at Anfield at the weekend, many Liverpool fans took the time to share their thoughts on the situation on Twitter.
This is painful to watch
— YorubadGoodGuy ? (@FabYorubadGuy) March 7, 2020
Little bit weird
— Arif WS (@ArifWS6) March 7, 2020
Imagine not shaking hand but later will go head to head, shoulder to shoulder. They’re touching each other a lot during the match. Lol
— Zarriq Adzrin (@ZarriqAdzrin) March 7, 2020
What do we think?
It certainly is strange seeing the players just walk past each other without shaking hands. What makes the decision to ban the handshakes even weirder is that it hasn’t done anything to stop the range of physical contact between the players during the match.