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It’s good to talk.

And Liverpool and their supporters really do need to sit down and talk.

Because for the second successive match last night, Anfield’s usual kaleidoscope of flags and banners were missing from the Kop.

It’s an issue which is as disappointing as it is complicated.

And in recent weeks it has become more petty and political than the joyous flying of flags at a football match should be.

Banners used to be an expression of wit and a show of support – nothing more serious than pinching your mum’s old bedsheets, thinking of a witty slogan (“Joey Ate The Frogs Legs, Made The Swiss Roll, Now He’s Munching Gladbach” still hasn’t been bettered) - then stitching the words onto a giant flag.

And, of course, standing far enough apart to make sure it could be effectively unfurled.

That was 1977.

Now flags need poles, stadium safety issues mean admission of such objects into a stadium have to be monitored, and the flags have to be lowered at kick-off time so people can see.

Liverpool fans have carefully adhered to all those caveats for many years, and as a result Anfield has been a colourful, vibrant and memorable place to visit, regardless of what has been happening on the pitch.

But in recent months things have changed.

Battle lines appeared to be drawn back in November 2014, when a supporters group tried to use the threat of withdrawing flags at a crucial Champions League match against Basel as leverage to force a meeting over “exorbitant ticket prices.”

That followed a prominent protest before a Premier League match against Stoke, when traditional flags were replaced by one giant flag declaring: “Let me tell you a story of a poor boy”, followed by an example of how much prices had escalated since 1990.

Flags were clearly becoming a political tool for fans feeling disenfranchised.

The club appreciates the value of a colourful atmosphere, and fans appreciate the bargaining counter they now possess.

The issue polarised in the last home match of last season - Steven Gerrard’s Anfield farewell against Crystal Palace – and was clearly caused by poor communication.

The fans who fly many of the banners on the Kop have formed a group called ‘Spion Kop 1906’ – and were keen to help create a special Steven Gerrard mosaic.

The mosaic worked effectively, but not before words were exchanged between the fans trying to organise the display and stewards who had apparently been unaware of any planned display, despite the supporters claiming discussions had taken place.

Added to this upset was the case of a Reds fan holding a banner who became involved in a row with the husband of a disabled supporter.

When supporters from Spion Kop 1906 were invited to a meeting with the club last summer, they believed they were attending a meeting to discuss the stewarding issues at the Palace match. Instead they were made to feel browbeaten into trying to give up the name of the fan, at that time unknown, who had been involved in the row.

That created an element of mistrust between fans and club, then long serving stadium manager Ged Poynton retired in the summer and a new regime came up with an ill-conceived request for fans who wished to fly flags to seek special accreditation.

That was quickly and sensibly dropped.

Against this simmering backdrop another meeting was planned between Stadium authorities and the fans group, with Spion Kop 1906 saying the flag ban would be lifted if Liverpool FC agreed to meet with them for talks.

Talks were scheduled, but supporters rejected the offer because “senior club officials will not be present.”

All very petty and all very avoidable.

As a result no flags were flying again at Anfield last night.

No-one comes out of the situation with reputations enhanced.

But Spion Kop 1906’s statement cuts to the heart of the matter.

They say: “We simply have a collection of flags and banners and believe, the more that are on display each match day, the better.”

Agreed.

So can’t both parties just sit down, talk and get the flags waving back at Anfield on Sunday?