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Liverpool manger Jurgen Klopp has underlined the importance of the Premier League‘s vaccination programme, and insisted that everyone at the club will receive their booster jabs as cases of the new Covid variant, Omicron, continue to rise.
As of today, supporters attending top-flight matches must complete a declaration to confirm they have been double vaccinated or tested negative – with a raft of new measures introduced across the sport alongside the government’s Plan B.
Amid fears of a ‘tidal wave’ of infections sparked by Omicron, which is rapidly spreading, there is more pressure than ever on footballers to accept their jabs – and Klopp is keen for those who have not been to be identified for safety reasons.
Questioned on the recent crackdown, he said: ‘I support new measures, absolutely. We get tested every day and before the games, absolutely fine.
‘I’m here earlier than most of the players, tested before we arrive and then back to the cars. When lateral flows are negative, we are allowed to enter.
‘Yesterday we all were and we hope that is the case for today. We are like the whole world, concerned about it, absolutely. We do what we can.’
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed that ‘everyone’ at the club is double vaccinated
Supporters wanting to watch Liverpool and other clubs must now pass new Covid-19 checks
Clubs are concerned about the stuttering rollout of vaccinations, which has left the majority of players facing a lengthy wait to provide protection against Omicron – with studies showing that two jabs offer little immunity in comparison.
Sportsmail has previously reported that Wolves are the only top-flight side set to meet Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s target of boosting all over-18s by the end of the month. However, Leeds and Brentford are also understood to be well advanced.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation are insisting on a three-month gap between second and third vaccines does, but Klopp has said that, as soon as they are safe to do so, his Liverpool squad will take another jab.
‘For medical reasons some were not allowed in that moment but they will in the next few days,’ he added. ‘The rest have. Hopefully we can do it with the whole team.’
Klopp said those who are jabbed at Anfield did so for ‘for loyalty, solidarity and togetherness’
He then went on to say: ‘The whole vaccination thing for me is a question of solidarity, loyalty and togetherness.
‘Everyone working at the training ground is at least double-vaccinated and will get the booster as soon as possible.’
The latest vaccine data in the Premier League is a secret, but the information published on October 19 showed 68 per cent of players were fully vaccinated.
Almost a third, therefore, will have to wait until late January to get boosted.
A raft of new measures have been introduced in the UK to help limit Omicron transmission
And with the entire picture remaining mired in uncertainty, Klopp is keen to see the identities of those who have coronavirus released.
‘When we play Spurs on Sunday we have no idea who is able to play or not,’ he said.
‘It’s different to usual preparation, but it shows the info on who has Covid could be different.
‘I’m not sure if it’s possible from a legal point of view. I don’t think people should hide it. That’s why I think a bit more transparency would be helpful.’
Last month, Bayern Munich refused to pay Joshua Kimmich (right) and four other players for every training session and match they missed as part of self-isolation for being unvaccinated
Richarlison received his jab but Premier League clubs have lagged in the vaccination battle
The rapid spread of Omicron has exposed the dangers of the players’ vaccine hesitancy. Health Secretary Sajid Javid worryingly said the new variant may have accounted for up to 200,000 infections across the UK on Monday.
Clubs in the Premier League are considering whether they would be able to dock their players’ wages if they are forced to self-isolate as they have not been jabbed.
Last month, Bayern Munich refused to pay five of their stars for every game or training day they missed after coming into contact with a Covid-positive person.
Sportsmail understands that a number of clubs, fed up with their refuseniks, are looking into whether they would legally be able to follow suit.
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