The Premier League has scrapped the usual pre-match handshakes between teams and officials because of fears over the spread of coronavirus.
The measure will be in place for the foreseeable future from this weekend’s round of fixtures.
The teams will line up as usual but instead of shaking hands, the home side will walk past the away team.
A Premier League statement read: “The Premier League fair-play handshakes will not take place between players and match officials from this weekend until further notice based on medical advice.
“Conornavirus is spread via droplets from the nose and mouth and can be transmitted onto the hands and passed on via a handshake.
“Clubs and match officials will still perform the rest of the traditional walk-out protocol ahead of each fixture. On entering the field of play, the two teams will continue to line up, accompanied by the Premier League music, then players from the home team will walk past their opposition without shaking hands.”
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Liverpool are also taking extra measures in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus, which includes not having mascots at Anfield.
In addition, club employees will not travel to high-risk countries, while the attention of staff and supporters is being drawn to the increased need for good personal hygiene.
A statement on the club’s official website said: “In recent weeks, there has been a rise of confirmed Covid-19 (novel coronavirus) cases around the world. We have several new measures in place across LFC operations to help prevent the spread of the virus and protect the health of our employees.
“We have taken proactive measures, including cancelling any staff travel to high-risk countries and reminding everyone of good hygiene practices through notices in/around all our sites.
“We have also activated a health questionnaire screening for all external visitors to all our training facilities, our office locations and other community facilities that we use regularly.
“For supporters planning on attending Anfield, there will be hand sanitisers and/or antibacterial handwash in all the washrooms at Anfield as well as additional information posters reinforcing the official medical advice for everyone to take personal responsibility for excellent personal hygiene.
“We are also taking matchday precautionary measures and will not have any mascots on the pitch. Any supporter displaying symptoms that are consistent with the virus should ensure they familiarise themselves with the chief medical officer’s advice on self-isolation.
“We will continue to take the best advice from the relevant authorities and will update supporters with any further developments.”
Some 116 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, including 105 in England, two in Wales, six in Scotland and three in Northern Ireland.
On Thursday, a patient with underlying health conditions became the first person in the UK to die after testing positive for the virus.
