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Former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says he plans to attend the Hillsborough memorial service at Anfield in April.

It has already been announced that this year’s service will be the final one held at the stadium, a decision made unanimously by the families of the Hillsborough Family Support Group (HFSG).

Rodgers, who managed the Reds between 2012 and 2015, gave a powerful speech at the 2014 service alongside Everton boss Roberto Martinez, and says it will be a “privilege” to be in attendance on Friday 15 April.

He told the Belfast Telegraph: “From the outside all of us would have looked at the situation and admired the courage the families showed throughout many, many years.

“When I became the manager of Liverpool I got an insight into what the suffering was like. I met the relatives and I also met the survivors and talked about the lives they have led since the tragedy.

“Thankfully I will be there at the last service at Anfield. It is a great privilege to me to be there to support the families and the club. Even though I'm not there any more I am still a big lover of the club and what it stands for.”

Discussing the decision to make this year’s service the last to be held at Anfield, HFSG chair Margaret Aspinall, said in January: “The 96 will never be forgotten. It is likely that the inquests will be concluded before the anniversary so this final memorial service will provide the families with some closure.

“The HFSG would like to thank everyone for all the support the families have received over the past 27 years and all those people who have attended the service at Anfield each year.

“We would also like to extend our thanks to Liverpool Football Club for their continued support over the past 27 years and for hosting the service each year at Anfield.

“We hope that the public and fans respect the decision of the HFSG and will continue to remember the 96 in their own perhaps more private way.”