Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has admitted he "found it very difficult" to adjust to playing behind closed doors at first.
The Reds’ four remaining home matches of the 2019/20 season were all played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus outbreak.
While this season has also started without spectators in attendance with the Government's latest update indicating that it could be some time before fans are allowed to return.
However, the Premier League has joined forces with the EFL, the FA, the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship to stress their commitment to opening stadiums to fans again and urge the government to allow supporters into matches.
In an open letter to fans released yesterday, the sporting bodies have reassured fans that they are keen for matches to no longer be played behind closed doors as soon as possible.
The bodies argue that the reopening of arts and music venues for socially-distanced events indoors is positive progress, the leagues all stress the belief that football should now be allowed to undertake its own similar reopening.
Whilst they are also committed to ensuring that fans remain safe during the coronavirus, the letter argued that test events showed sport can be played in front of fans with a minimised risk.
And Van Dijk has admitted that it has been hard to play at Anfield without Liverpool fans in attendance cheering his side on.
"The fans can play a massive part in difficult times during games and also at good times in games," the Netherlands international told Eddie Hearn's 'No Passion No Point' podcast.
"When you concede the fans will lift you and when you score they make the opponent go further away from you.
"It's the same case for everyone, but for us in particular everyone knows how difficult it is to play at Anfield with the fans behind us. Hopefully things can change as soon as possible because we need fans.
"It lifts our performances at home but when you play away and the home fans turn against you - I like that. It gives you that motivation sometimes to do better. It's something I definitely enjoy and that I miss."
Eddie Hearn: No Passion, No Point is available on BBC Sounds & BBC Radio 5 Live
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