Watch: LFC's Christmas community carol service
Liverpool FC's community team, Red Neighbours, is hosting its first-ever virtual community Christmas carol service this year, as a result of not being able to host the service at Anfield due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The popular annual event usually takes place at Anfield in the run-up to Christmas, with more than 500 guests attending – including local schools, residents, community groups, LFC staff and players.
This year’s festive service, which will be hosted by the club’s chaplain Bill Bygroves, will feature performances from Four Oaks Primary School and Daisy Inclusive UK, readings by Margaret Aspinall, LFC Women players Taylor Hinds and Rachel Furness, and Reds goalkeeper Alisson Becker – plus a very special Christmas message from manager Jürgen Klopp.
In addition to the online viewing option, 200 DVDs of the Christmas carol service will be sent to local community groups and care homes for residents to enjoy at their leisure.
Forbes Duff, senior manager, Red Neighbours, said: “We are delighted to be able to share our annual Christmas carol service virtually this year for our local communities and the wider LFC family to enjoy.
“We would, of course, prefer to welcome people to Anfield in person but that’s sadly not an option this year due to the ongoing pandemic, but it’s something to look forward to again in the near future.”
This festive period, LFC is bringing the festivities home to its communities, as part of its Operation Christmas Magic campaign, from hosting events virtually – such as the first team’s annual visit to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital – to delivering 1,500 Christmas food hampers to vulnerable families in Anfield and Kirkby and supporting Cash For Kids’ Mission Christmas toy appeal to ensure that no child wakes up on Christmas morning across the Liverpool City Region without a toy.
For more information on the club’s Christmas activities, please visit liverpoolfc.com/christmas-support.