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Liverpool shields game plan from prying eyes

Xinhua, April 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

Liverpool FC, one of the top English premiership football clubs, has finally drawn a veil over shutter-happy photographers and spies from rival clubs.

The club was concerned about people eavesdropping on its training sessions at Liverpool FC's official training base where pre-match tactics are tested.

The training center, a few kilometres from the world famous Anfield Stadium, regularly attracts photographers and 'spies' from rival football clubs eager to see potential game tactics being practiced.

Liverpool FC officials have now won approval to build a retractable 4.5 meter high screen to prevent people having a grandstand view of its practice sessions at its Melwood Training Center in a Liverpool suburb.

A spokesman for Liverpool FC said the club has been having problems with people filming training sessions.

He said: "The modern game of football is a tactical sport. The screen can be closed around the training pitch during tactical training sessions."

The plan for the screen follows a string of leaks on social media sites from people observing training in the run-up to games.

Fans have got the information from peering over the walls of the West Derby training complex and watching the manager work on the team's shape.

People have been known to climb onto refuse bins, cars or ladders to peer over the walls surrounding the Melwood training center. The pitch is also overlooked by a number of houses.

Despite objections, mainly from local residents living close to Melwood, Liverpool's planning committee has approved the scheme for the high screens which will be used when the club's star players are training.

The club said the screens - which will be retracted at all other times - were first planned more than a year ago.

The council says the fact the screens are retractable will minimise the impact on residents, as well as allowing the grass to grow properly.

For Liverpool FC it will mean the club will no longer risk giving the game away, ahead of the kick-off on match days. Endit