Liverpool fans back safe standing with online poll set to reveal tens of thousands showing their support

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Liverpool fans are thought to have voted in huge numbers to back the introduction of safe standing, delivering a deeply significant boost to the campaign to bring the concept into the Premier League.

Sportsmail reported last week that the poll results — to be revealed on Monday — were likely to show fans in favour. But the vote will carry even greater weight if suggestions that tens of thousands have cast votes in favour proves accurate.

A vote on that scale is likely to lead Spirit of Shankly (SoS) — the supporters' organisation which has coordinated the poll — to declare on Monday that this is a big step forward in the national campaign for the choice to stand or sit.

Liverpool fan group Spirit of Shankly have voted in favour of bringing in safe standing

Some of the Hillsborough families are set against the idea following the tragedy in 1989

A strong vote in favour is also likely to be seen as a strong enough mandate for SoS to take up an offer extended to Liverpool fans by Celtic, to go and see their own safe-standing section in action.

The organisation is also likely to seek a meeting with Liverpool, as well as Hillsborough families, to discuss the next step.

The result of the online ballot is keenly awaited because it was the inquiry into the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 Liverpool fans died, which led to all-seat stadiums in football's top two tiers. Persuading ministers to introduce legislation needed for standing will be impossible without huge Liverpool support.

But there is acute sensitivity that an overwhelming vote in favour should not be greeted as a source of celebration, when some of the Hillsborough families are set against the idea. SoS is likely to emphasise that point on Monday if the vote is in favour.

Liverpool fans have been invited to visit Celtic and see their safe-standing section in action

Safe standing has been a big hit at Celtic and fan groups in England want it introduced

The organisation is also likely to highlight some of the safety issues raised at two debates on the issue in Liverpool — including the question of how to evacuate areas if fans are standing up.

The public meetings revealed concerns among some fans about a 'yes' vote removing any obstacle to safe standing.

'People will say, "If it's alright for the Hillsborough survivors, it's alright for everybody," and then if something happens in 40 years' time, we'll have that on us,' said Damian Kavanagh, who escaped with his life at Hillsborough but lost a close friend. 'We need to know more about how safe this system is.'

The debates, along with online discussion of the poll, have pointed to a vastly greater turnout than expected. 

Liverpool are still unlikely to bring in a safe standing section at Anfield in the near future

A link to the SoS online survey was retweeted hundreds of times, with the former defender Jamie Carragher, the Hillsborough Family Support Group and Hillsborough Justice Campaign all encouraging participation.

Supporters were asked five questions, with the key one being whether they were in favour, against, undecided or in need of more information on 'the introduction of rail seating into football stadiums'. SoS wanted the debate and vote to be held to ensure that Liverpool's fans could contribute and not be a block to national progress.

It is still likely to be some time before the club consider a safe-standing section. Liverpool say they will listen to fans' views.