Liverpool v Atletico Madrid Champions League match linked to '41 additional' coronavirus deaths

Around 52,000 fans at Anfield on Mrch 11 - 3,000 of them Atleti supporters

Diego Simeone, Manager of Atletico Madrid celebrates his side's second goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match against Liverpool FC at Anfield. Getty Images

Liverpool's Spanish goalkeeper Adrian tracts as Atletico Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente scores his team's first goal during the Champions League last 16 match. AFP

Georginio Wijnaldum of Liverpool celebrates with Jordan Henderson and Andy Robertson after scoring his team's first goal. Getty Images

Diego Simeone, right, gives instructions to midfielder Koke. AFP

Atletico Madrid's Spanish striker Alvaro Morata celebrates scoring his side's third goal. AFP

Atletico Madrid's Marcos Llorente, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal. AP Photo

Atletico Madrid's Alvaro Morata scores their third goal. Reuters

Atletico Madrid's Saul Niguez scores a disallowed goal. Reuters

Atletico Madrid's Marcos Llorente scores their second goal. REUTERS

Atletico Madrid's Alvaro Morata celebrates scoring their third goal. Reuters

Diego Simeone, left, celebrates with Marcos Llorente after the win over Liverpool. EPA

Atletico Madrid's Alvaro Morata celebrates scoring their third goal as Liverpool's Joe Gomez and Adrian look dejected. Reuters

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool reacts to defeat to Altetico Madrid. Getty Images

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp looks dejected after they concede their third goal. REUTERS

Liverpool's Champions League match against Atletico Madrid in March go ahead may have "led to 41 additional deaths" due to the coronavirus, according to a report.

Around 52,000 fans - with some 3,000 Atleti supporters - flew in for the match at Anfield on March 11 to see the Spanish side beat Liverpool to advance to the quarter-finals 4-2 on aggregate.

The match was the last major football fixture played in England before the coronavirus lockdown.

According to the Sunday Times, Edge Health, which analyses data for Britain's National Health Service, estimated the match was "linked to 41 additional deaths" at nearby hospitals between 25 and 35 days later, compared with similar hospital trusts that were used as a control.

Imperial College London and Oxford University have estimated Spain had around 640,000 positive coronavirus cases at the time that the match went ahead compared to 100,000 in Britain.

Last month one of the mayors for Liverpool called for an investigation into why the Atletico match was allowed to proceed as scheduled.

"If people have contracted coronavirus as a direct result of a sporting event that we believe shouldn't have taken place, well that is scandalous," Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool City Region, told the BBC.

"That needs to be investigated to find out whether some of those infections are due directly to the Atletico fans. There were coronavirus hot cities, and Madrid was one of those."

A ban on spectators is expected when football resumes in Britain, with the Premier League looking to restart next month.

The UK has reported more than 36,000 deaths during the pandemic - the worst tally in Europe and second only to the United States.