Reds pay respects to the 97 on Hillsborough anniversary

On the 33rd anniversary of the disaster that unfolded at the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest on April 15, 1989, tributes took place in memory of the children, women and men who will never be forgotten.

Floral wreaths were laid at Anfield’s Hillsborough Memorial in the morning, with Barry Lewtas and Tom Clayton representing the U23s squad and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson and Luca Stephenson the U18s.

Sir Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush and Susan Black paid respects on behalf of the club, followed by Matt Beard and Rachael Laws for LFC Women and Jürgen Klopp and Jordan Henderson for the men’s team.

Squads in training today have held periods of silence and at 3.06pm, the time that the match was stopped in 1989, all club staff and players observed a minute’s silence in memory of the 97.

Ninety-seven biodegradable balloons were subsequently released on the pitch at Anfield, while tributes were made across the city of Liverpool on a poignant day.