Reds fans to keep flags and banners on The Kop after threatening to remove them

Liverpool supporters will keep their vast array of banners and flags on The Kop when their beloved team face Newcastle on Saturday, after the club performed a dramatic U-turn and pulled out of the European Super League.

In a crazy 48 hours, furious Liverpool fans had initially announced they would remove their flags and banners from the iconic Anfield stand in protest at the club signing up as one of the 12 founding members of the Super League.

Liverpool fan group Spion Kop 1906 initially said: 'We, along with other groups involved in flags, will be removing our flags from The Kop. We feel we can no longer give our support to a club which puts financial greed above integrity of the game.'

The reigning Premier League champions have since pulled the plug on their commitments to the ill-fated European venture, a move that has been welcomed by the club's supporters following widespread backlash to the plans.

In an updated statement on Wednesday morning, Spion Kop 1906, who organise banner and flag displays, revealed: 'Following last night's announcement that Liverpool FC will no longer be taking part in a "European Super League", our flags will be on the Kop for Saturday's home game.

'As always, we are committed to supporting the team. We thank the players, and especially Jordan Henderson, for their support of the fans.

'It has been great to see the solidarity amongst Liverpool fans, and also from fan bases across all clubs over the past couple of days, and we should use this opportunity to affect genuine change.'

The statement then heavily warned Liverpool's Fenway Sports Group owners to never go against the fans ever again, as the supporters are the 'true owners' of the club.

The statement added: 'To FSG, your continued wrong decisions and lack of consultation with the fans in these big decisions have been your ultimate downfall. Once again you have gone toe to toe with the wrong people and your delay in making the statement is cowardly.

'This is OUR club, not yours - never take us for granted because once again you have seen that it's the fans who have the power, not the men with the briefcase.

'The fans are the true owners of the Football Club and our support will always be with the staff, manager and players - FOOTBALL WITHOUT FANS IS NOTHING.'

Liverpool captain Henderson had led the way as Jurgen Klopp's squad came together to post their 'collective position' on the European Super League plans - making it abundantly clear they didn't want to be a part of the project in any way.

The move from the players came hours after the Liverpool captain had called an emergency meeting of his fellow Premier League skippers on Tuesday to spearhead a response to the Super League proposals, as exclusively revealed by Sportsmail.

But while Spion Kop 1906 welcomed the change in tune from Liverpool, they were also quick to hit out at UEFA for their proposed reforms to the Champions League - that would make the prestigious tournament more 'elitist'.

UEFA's shake-up would see the total number of teams swell from 32 to 36 and the traditional group stage format is to be abolished.

In its place a single league stage, which includes all 36 participating teams, would be devised which would see every team guaranteed 10 'league stage' matches.

Wednesday's statement added: 'Whilst we are all fighting against the new competition, UEFA passed through reforms which make the European Cup more elitist, with additional games and therefore expense for fans. It is important we all stand together to oppose this too.'

And Spion Kop, while admitting they welcomed Sky and other media outlets' support in the protests against the Super League, claimed more needs to be done to help fans who have been frozen out amid surges in ticket prices and changes in kick-off times.

'We've welcomed the support that Sky and others in the media have shown for fans over the past few days, and hope that this leads them to look at their own treatment of fans and things they can do around kick off times, match ticket prices, and how ALL football fans are treated. This is just the start.'

Liverpool and the rest of the Premier League's Big Six pulled the plug on their European Super League commitments late on Tuesday night - which led to the suspension of the venture.

And after two days of silence as widespread anger and fury erupted across Europe at the Super League proposals, Liverpool owner John W Henry finally appeared in a video message on Wednesday and said: 'I want to apologise to all the fans and supporters of Liverpool Football Club for the disruption I caused over the past 48 hours.

'It goes without saying but should be said that the project put forward was never going to stand without the support of the fans. No-one ever thought differently in England. Over these 48 hours you were very clear that it would not stand. We heard you. I heard you.

'And I want to apologise to Jurgen, to Billy (Hogan, club chief executive), to the players and to everyone who works so hard at LFC to make our fans proud. They have absolutely no responsibility for this disruption. They were the most disrupted and unfairly so. This is what hurts most. They love your club and work to make you proud every single day.

'I know the entire LFC team has the expertise, leadership and passion necessary to rebuild trust and help us move forward. More than a decade ago when we signed up for the challenges associated with football, we dreamed of what you dreamed of. And we’ve worked hard to improve your club. Our work isn’t done. And I hope you’ll understand that even when we make mistakes, we’re trying to work in your club’s best interests. In this endeavour I’ve let you down.

'Again, I’m sorry, and I alone am responsible for the unnecessary negativity brought forward over the past couple of days. It’s something I won’t forget. And shows the power the fans have today and will rightly continue to have.

'If there’s one thing this horrible pandemic has clearly shown, it’s how crucial fans are to our sport and to every sport. It’s shown in every empty stadium. It’s been an incredibly tough year for all of us; virtually no-one unaffected.

'It’s important that the Liverpool football family remains intact, vital and committed to what we’ve seen from you globally, with local gestures of kindness and support. I can promise you I will do whatever I can to further that.'