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Liverpool Football Club remains against the idea of “safe standing” - after a questionnaire about a pilot scheme was sent to all 20 Premier League clubs.

The survey was dispatched to every club in the top division, testing opinion about the issue, asking if they would support safe standing in a section of their stadiums.

Any temporary move to standing would be on a trial basis, it is understood.

But Liverpool FC today indicated they would be against the move, as they continue to back the stance of the Hillsborough Family Support Group(HFSG), that all-seater grounds are the only option.

West Bromwich Albion are “very keen to be involved in a pilot”, their director of operations Mark Miles said over the weekend.

Scottish champions Celtic opened a new 2,900-capacity “safe standing section” last season after being granted a safe-standing licence by Glasgow City Council.

But it remains a controversial issue for the English top-flight .

The questionnaire comes just days before the Hillsborough families gather on Wednesday to learn if any criminal charges will be filed against those involved in the tragedy and its subsequent cover-up.

There are believed to be differing views among the 20 Premier League clubs, with the Reds likely to always support the HFSG , the group with the largest amount of families affected by the 1989 disaster.

But even those on Merseyside are split on the issue, with the Hillsborough Justice Campaign (HJC) previously saying they support a full debate on the subject.

Fans group The Spirit of Shankly are also said to be keen to trial safe standing.

One reason the Premier League commissioned the safe standing study was to address the regular problem of some fans standing up for matches, despite having seats, blocking the views of those sitting down.

It is also argued by some that some safe standing improves the atmosphere at games, while others believe the result of the Taylor Report - to make English grounds all-seater - has worked well and boosted safety.

Last summer, the government gave their first hint that the subject of safe standing was not an impossibility, when then-minister for the Department Culture, Media and Sport: “We will monitor its introduction in Scotland closely and reassess this position once evidence from the Scottish experience is available.”

(Image: Jeff Holmes/PA Wire)

Today, a Premier League spokesman said: “Last November clubs tasked the Premier League with scoping out the safety, supporter, technical and legislative issues surrounding permitted standing before further discussions, based on facts, take place.

“This survey is part of that process.”

The ECHO understands the Premier League view their position as “neutral”, with questions to the clubs “based on hypothetical scenarios.”

The questionnaire is believed to be part of a fact-finding mission.

A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said: “The government currently has no plans to change its position and introduce standing accommodation at grounds covered by the all-seater requirement.”

Currently, standing sections are allowed at League and League Two matches, but banned at Premier League and Championship venues.

A Liverpool FC spokesman said: “Our position remains the same. Like the Hillsborough Family Support Group we do not support safe standing.”

Everton FC declined to comment.