Its odd – since we just beat Burnley at the weekend – but Clarets forward, Jon Walters, is putting everything behind Liverpool winning the league.
The Scouser told the Irish Times that he “grew up an Everton fan”, but, as a volunteer at the Charles Thompson Mission, he knows first-hand the issues of homelessness and poverty in the Merseyside area.
Although he’s nailed his colours to the other side of Stanley Park, he said: “People ask each other who they would rather see win the league: Manchester City or Liverpool? I’d rather Liverpool win it, to have something good happen for the area.”
The Irishman believes that the city has a sense of solidarity that can’t be matched. “There are a lot of reasons for it politically if you go back in history, but it’s a city that tends to come into its own when the times are hard”, he added.
Despite the trappings of being a professional footballer, the 35-year-old uses his spare time to help tackle the issue homelessness in Liverpool and has funded projects to try and solve the problem.
A big Thank You to this young Lady& Gentleman for their donation today.#HungerDoesntWearClubColours #EFC #LFC pic.twitter.com/mzQqPxPZVI
— Fans Supporting Foodbanks (@SFoodbanks) March 10, 2019
Walters also said: “Look, I know everybody has their own story,”
“And some people have made bad decisions but regardless of what side you see yourself as being on, this shouldn’t happen.
“People shouldn’t have to come to a foodbank to get bread and butter on a Sunday morning, they shouldn’t have to come to be somewhere that is warm, just to get out of the cold and wet. And it’s terrible to watch the decline in people; they age so quickly when they are on the streets.”
These are truly touching words from a true Scouser – even if he is a Blue. It goes to show that some things are more important than football.
The people of Liverpool always stand together when the going gets tough and its good to see Walters pushing for us to win the league.
Liverpool FC’s Red Neighbours programme routinely collects for foodbanks on matchdays, which is something worth considering for out next home game against Tottenham on the last day of March.