- Liverpool have appointed the 51-year-old player they called a ‘lifelong fan of the club’
- The tragedy occurred the night before Liverpool’s Champions League match
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A Liverpool fan who was in Italy to watch the Champions League match against AC Milan has died after colliding with a vehicle as he crossed the road.
Philip Joseph Dooley, 51, from Liverpool, died after the crash in Bergamo at 1am on Tuesday, Merseyside Police said.
Two men who witnessed the incident are helping Italian police with their investigation. Merseyside Police are also helping authorities in Italy.
The loyal Liverpool supporter had travelled to Italy on Tuesday evening for the club’s opening Champions League match.
A club spokesman said: ‘Our staff in Milan are working with local police and the consulate and continue to provide support to other fans affected by this devastating incident.
Liverpool and AC Milan executives laid flowers on the seat of Philip Dooley, 51, who died before the match in Italy
The supporter was killed as he tried to cross the A4 motorway in Milan to reach his hotel
Liverpool take on AC Milan at the San Siro in their first leg of the Champions League
‘The thoughts and prayers of everyone involved with the club are with Philip’s family, friends and supporters at this extremely difficult time.
‘Rest in peace, Philip.’
The tragedy occurred less than 24 hours before Liverpool’s opening Champions League match against AC Milan at the San Siro.
According to reports in Italy, he had a ticket for the match in his pocket at the time of his death, along with his passport.
Police are also investigating whether the fan was “in an altered psychophysical state that could have influenced his actions.”
It will be the fifth Champions League meeting between the two teams. Their most famous encounter was the 2005 final in Istanbul, when Liverpool came from 3-0 down to win on penalties.
Just two years later, the teams met again in the Champions League final, with Milan taking revenge with a 2-1 victory.
Liverpool go into their Champions League opener with their first defeat of the season
Liverpool and Milan were also in the same group in the 2021/22 Champions League, with the Reds winning both meetings.
Arne Slot’s team go into the Champions League opener with their first defeat of the Premier League season. Anthony Elanga’s strike gave Nottingham Forest a surprise victory at Anfield last Saturday.