‘Unity is strength’: Liverpool ‘s first training session back at Anfield is halted as EVERY player stops to take a knee and show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement after George Floyd’s death
- Liverpool players all took a knee around the centre circle of the pitch at Anfield
- They showed solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement during training
- Georginio Wijnaldum tweeted the powerful image and wrote: ‘Unity is strength’
- Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford are among other stars to show support
The Liverpool squad made a powerful gesture in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement during their training session at Anfield on Monday.
Each of the players took a knee around the centre circle, facing the camera higher up in the stand.
A point was made of the stars wearing different versions of the club kits with some decked out in red, others in the away black shirt and a handful wearing training gear.
The Liverpool squad stopped training to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement
The squad took a knee midway through their first training session back at Anfield
Some players wore the home shirt, others the away and a handful wore training gear
Georginio Wijnaldum shared the affecting image on social media, writing: ‘Unity is strength’.
It was the first training session Jurgen Klopp’s side have had at Anfield as a team since the season was suspended due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and they chose to stop the session to make a powerful statement.
They are the first Premier League side to offer up a collective act of support for the Black Lives Matter movement but a number of high profile individuals have had their say since the death of George Floyd due to police brutality this week.
Young Liverpool striker Rhian Brewster, who is on loan at Swansea, will be heartened by his side’s show of togetherness having earlier said the movement goes beyond Floyd as he called for a level playing field.
George Floyd’s death last Monday has sparked widespread calls for justice across the US
Liverpool striker Rhian Brewster, on loan at Swansea City, had earlier called for a level playing field with a series of posts on social media
Brewster tweeted: ‘This is way deeper than just pointing out who’s staying quiet and who’s speaking up.
‘Unfortunately for us black/brown people etc, this is a real life & everyday occurrence in so many different ways. For years & generations we’ve been screaming out for change and to be heard yet the pain continues… ⠀
‘We’ve all been shown films like Roots, we’ve all seen films like Boyz in the Hood where this reality is covered and showcased. Yet we are still living these movies in real life. In 2020, today.
‘This goes beyond just #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd, we need justice for us as Human beings.
Manchester United star Marcus Rashford also spoke out on the Black Lives Matter movement
The England international said: ‘I’ve been trying to process what is going on in the world’
‘We don’t want special privilege. A level playing field is all we have been crying for, forever. Hear us. #BlackLivesMatter’
George Floyd’s death has sparked widespread protests across the United States he is seen by many as a symbol for systemic police brutality against African-Americans.
Activists have been calling for justice over the death of Mr Floyd, who had a knee pressed into his neck for more than eight minutes while being detained by a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, and eventually died on the scene in Minneapolis last Monday.
Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford was another high profile player to share his thoughts, writing on Twitter: ‘I know you guys haven’t heard from me in a few days. I’ve been trying to process what is going on in the world.
‘At a time I’ve been asking people to come together, work together and be united, we appear to be more divided than ever. People are hurting and people need answers.
Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho unveiled a ‘Justice for George Floyd’ shirt on Sunday
‘Black lives matter. Black culture matters. Black communities matter. We matter. #justiceforgeorgefloyd #justiceforahmaudarbery #justiceforbreonnataylor.’
In Germany, Borussia Dortmund and England winger Jadon Sancho revealed a ‘Justice for George Floyd’ shirt while celebrating his goal against Paderborn on Sunday.
The likes of Weston McKennie and Marcus Thuram also showed their support for Floyd following his death, with the former wearing a ‘Justice for George’ armband while playing for Schalke while the latter took a knee after scoring for Borussia Monchengladbach.