Liverpool will unveil the world’s biggest AIDS ribbon during half-time of their match against Southampton on Saturday to raise awareness for World AIDS Day 2012 and Standard Chartered’s Living with HIV programme.

The ribbon stretches to 49 metres and will be rolled out across the pitch at Anfield with help from staff at Standard Chartered and the HIV/AIDS charity AVERT.

The ribbon was made in India and is recognised as the largest in the world by Guinness World Records, and will be making its first appearance in the UK at the match.

Liverpool’s managing director Ian Ayre said: “Living with HIV is an important cause, and one which the club is proud to support.

“When an individual wears a red ribbon they are demonstrating that they have joined the global fight against HIV, so we are delighted to be able to use the Anfield pitch to display the ribbon and raise awareness for HIV and AIDS.”

Mark Devadason of Standard Chartered described the match as the “perfect opportunity” to unveil the banner, highlighting it as an important moment in the battle to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS.

“Liverpool is scheduled to play Southampton on World AIDS Day making it the perfect opportunity to display the red ribbon and reinforce our commitment to the global fight against HIV.

He continued: “Our thanks go out to both Liverpool and AVERT who have made this activity possible, and enabled us to show our solidarity with those living with HIV and commemorate those who have died from the illness.”

Living with HIV is Standard Chartered’s global HIV and AIDS education programme, which seeks to inform people across the globe about preventative measures and treatments for the viruses.

The ribbon itself is being provided by AVERT on behalf of HIV expert Dr Surya Rao, who created it in his home country of India.