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Worrying trend creeping into Liverpool fan base that needs to be quickly stopped

  /  autty

A trend is creeping into the Liverpool fan base that needs to be stopped.

Fans - young or old - running on the pitch at the end of a game, often to ask a player for his shirt or a selfie.

This season alone there have been seven incidents that I can remember at Liverpool games.

One was a Norwich fan on the opening day of the season.

Another at the Super Cup in Istanbul nearly ended with Adrian facing a spell on the sidelines.

Four other occasions involved kids collecting shirts.

And the one last night was actually booed by the Anfield crowd.

Running onto the pitch is a criminal offence and risks arrest and prosecution.

The behaviour of this minority puts their own safety at risk and also could lead to penalties for the club from the relevant authorities.

It's not something that should be part of the matchday experience.

Last night's incidents are now being investigated by Merseyside Police, the force has confirmed.

You want children to love going to the match and you also want them to be able to experience what is happening at Liverpool right now.

They are so lucky. When I was growing up, Liverpool weren't very good.

Right now, we're blessed with the excitement of watching some of the best players on the planet.

Embracing the culture. Cheering on the European Champions. Celebrating a goal. Being down when your side picks up a poor result.

It's all very normal.

However, running onto the pitch to claim a shirt or a selfie isn't.

Kids should be starstruck if they are lucky enough to meet their idols. but this new trend is pushing it a bit too far.

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It's not a natural reaction and people should stop making it happen.

Klopp has pleaded for this so listen to the manager and stop.

Whoever is doing the running on the pitch, young or old, should not sway your opinion on whether it's acceptable or not.

This isn't me being a killjoy at all, but more about how we act, as people.

In all the cases we've seen so far this season, there has been no malice in the pitch invader's actions but it does potentially spark a much bigger issue.

And that is safety and security.

These kids just want something to remember the game by - and I will be honest, the first incident at MK Dons I was delighted for the kid.

But that should have been a one-off moment, not the start of something.

Last night, two children got on the pitch - as did another person moments before the full-time whistle.

It's happened at a lot at Liverpool games recently.

When that took place last night, the first thing that came into my mind was, what if it wasn't a harmless kid?

What if it was somebody who had plans to do something far worse than grab a shirt?

People will probably say I am being dramatic. But it actually could take place.

If it continues then more questions about safety and security at football stadiums will be asked.

Social media plays a huge part to play in this. A lot of these antics are for a few likes and retweets.

To trend on Twitter.

And is it all really worth it?

I don't think it is.

There is also the potential, as we have seen with autograph hunters at Melwood, for people to be doing this - and, even more cynically, getting youngsters to do this, for commercial reasons. How many of these shirts will end up on eBay going for hundreds or even thousands of pounds?

Last night many people will have seen this mini-pitch invasion happen and it will have planted a seed in people's brains.

And not just Liverpool fans. It could become an issue at a national level.

The bond between Liverpool and the fans right now is closer than it has ever been.

Players regularly hand their tops to kids in the stand and it should remain that way.

Last night was just the latest incident that put players in an awkward position.

If it continues then the club could be put in the position to stop these amazing gestures from players.

And none of us want that.

Related: Liverpool