Anfield – Liverpool

Main Stand expansion at Anfield

At one time walking up to Anfield alongside or through Stanley Park, you sometimes struggled to see the stadium behind the tree line. And when you did get a glimpse of the concrete cladding of the exterior of the stands, it didn’t looking particularly impressive.

But this has now dramatically changed with the construction of two additional tiers above the Main Stand. These extra tiers have made this stand simply huge, having increased the capacity of it from 12,000 to 20,500 and increased the overall capacity of Anfield to over 54,000.

The expanded Main Stand now towers of the rest of the stadium and even makes the Kop Stand (with a capacity of 13,000) look rather small. The Main Stand itself looks smart with single rows of executive boxes located between the tiers and having the players tunnel and team dugouts located out front. Its most striking feature though is its roof. Mostly made up of transparent panels to allow more light to the pitch, it protrudes out over the stand, by quite some distance and is curved to each side of the stand.

Anfield Kop End

The famous Kop Terrace at one end of the ground was replaced in 1994 by a huge stand, designed to emulate the shape of the old Kop, hence its kind of semi-circular look and large single tier.

The Anfield Road Stand

The other end, the Anfield Road Stand, part of which is given to away supporters, was opened in 1998. It is two-tiered with a smaller upper tier overhanging a larger lower one.

Kenny Dalglish Stand

On the remaining side of the stadium is the fair sized, two-tiered, Kenny Dalglish Stand, which is named after the former club player and manager.

This Stand was originally called the Kemlyn Road Stand (and later named the Centenary Stand), part of which was built in 1963 with an additional tier and row of executive boxes being added in 1992.

It has a capacity of just under 12,000.

Electric Scoreboard

In the corner between the Kop and Kenny Dalglish Stands is an electric scoreboard, which surprise, surprise, shows the match score in bright red letters. The stadium is totally enclosed, with all corners filled. This coupled with the closeness of the front of the stands to the pitch, can make for a great atmosphere.

Bill Shankly Statue

Around the outside of Anfield, there is the statue of the great man, Bill Shankly located near to the Club shop, as well as the Bob Paisley ‘Gateway’.

Anfield Road gates – YNWA

On the other side of the stadium, on Anfield Road, there are wrought iron gates which have the legendary Liverpool phrase ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ displayed above them.

Hillsborough Memorial at Anfield

Behind the Main Stand there is the moving memorial to the victims of the Hillsborough disaster.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought to a halt work on the expansion of the Anfield Road stand, but Liverpool have made good progress since. Manager Jurgen Klopp broke ground himself back in September 2021 and the stand is pretty much ready. Fans have been sat and stood in it for the start of the 2023/24 season, but there’s still a little way to go.

The top tier of the new stand has remained shut for the start of the season, restricting attendances at Anfield to around 50,000, instead of the 61,000 capacity it hopes to be upon completion.

When that completion will be isn’t fully clear yet, but reports indicate Liverpool could have its first 60,000 all-seater crowd for the Merseyside Derby on 21 October 2023.

Was Anfield home to Everton?

Yes. Liverpool moved into Anfield Stadium in 1892. Prior to that, the ground had served as a football arena for a full eight years, with Everton its original occupants.

In fact, the very reason Liverpool Football Club exists is because of Anfield. The two are inextricably linked. Everton and the stadium’s owner, John Houlding, had several disputes over the ground, with rent a key factor. In response, Everton moved across Stanley Park and Houlding formed a new team to fill his ground: Liverpool FC.

The club’s first league game there saw an attendance of 5,000 but plans to expand that were very much at the front of Liverpool’s minds.

In 1895, the Main Stand was built, which seated 3,000 alone. Eight years later the Liverpool ground saw the first ever Kop stand. Things remained as they were for over two decades but the Kop saw an enormous revamp in 1928; the new stand could facilitate a whopping 30,000 people. The now-mammoth Kop end was a giant of English football and it remained the latest development all the way through to the sixties when another new stand was built.

History of Anfield redevelopment

Numerous changes have been made to the Anfield stadium but, to be fair, they have been spread out.

In 1973, the Main Stand was partly rebuilt before seating was widely added in the early eighties. Later that decade, Liverpool made enforced changes to their stadium after the Hillsborough disaster.

Then came the early nineties with the Kemlyn Road stand getting a second tier and VIP boxes, a restaurant and more. The final alterations in wake of the aforementioned Hillsborough tragedy came a couple of years later as the famous Kop was turned into a fully seated stand; it put a squeeze on the capacity but you won’t find any Liverpool fans complaining about that. The last notable change to the stadium structure came in 1998 with Anfield Road going two-tiered.

More recently, we’ve seen the Main Stand expansion and Anfield Road expansion detailed above.

Where is the away section at Anfield?

Away fans at Anfield are situated in the Anfield Road end’s lower tier. The allocation for this section is typically around the 2,000 mark.

Best pubs around Anfield for away fans

Just across from the away fans’ turnstiles is a small fan zone area that also has a bar facility, whilst inside the ground bottles of Carlsberg (500ml) are available.

Most fans, however, will be looking for something a little better, in the form of a pub.

Walk a few minutes along Anfield Road and you’ll find the famous Arkles pub, the home to away fans on matchdays.

The Arkles also has a handy fish and chip shop located just around the corner from it, called John’s Supper Bar.

Mark Parsons, a visiting Aston Villa fan adds: “We arrived at the Arkles at about 1:15pm and already found it packed out, with fans queuing outside to get in. We asked a very helpful WPC for any other away friendly pubs and were told to go to the Flat Iron which was a five minute walk away. Although the pub was mostly full of Liverpool fans, the bars were mixed and all were very friendly. To find this pub, turn left at the junction where Arkles is (opposite direction to where Anfield is over to your right) onto Anfield Road. Head away from the ground and the pub is down at the bottom of this road on the right hand side.”

What section at Anfield is for away supporters?

Just under 3,000 away fans can be housed in the Anfield Road Stand at one end of the ground, although this allocation can be increased for domestic cup games.

If possible try to avoid getting a ticket for one of the back rows as the view can be restricted with the overhang of the tier above and also with fans standing in front, further blocking the view of the pitch.

Kimberly Hill adds: “Restricted view doesn’t even begin to describe what it was like. The Wolves fans insisted on standing so it was like trying to watch the game through a letterbox!”

The Anfield Road End is shared with home supporters, some of whom will be sitting in the small seated tier above the away fans.

I have always found it to be a good day out at Anfield, getting the feeling that you are visiting one of the legendary venues in world football. This is enhanced with the teams coming out to ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ reverberating around the ground, with the red and white scarves and flags of the fans displayed across the Kop, at the beginning of the match. The atmosphere is normally good, so sit back and enjoy the experience.

The facilities within the stand are not bad. There is a betting outlet and the refreshment kiosks sell amongst other things;  ‘Scouse Pies’, Potato and Meat Pies, Steak Pies, Cottage Pies, Cheese Slices, Sausage Rolls (all £3.50). Plus Hot Dogs (including Halal and Veggie options – all £4).

Follow the M62 until you reach the end of the motorway (beware of a 50mph speed camera about a 1/4 of a mile from the end of the motorway). Then keep right and take the A5058 Ring Road North, signposted Football Stadia. After three miles turn left at the traffic lights into Utting Avenue (there is a McDonalds on the corner of this junction). Proceed for one mile and then turn right at the Arkles pub for the ground.

Where to park at Anfield?

The opening of the new Main Stand has increased attendances at Anfield and with it the demand for car parking spaces. This has resulted in the fair sized car park in Stanley Park, now being reserved for permit holders only. There is though still secure parking available at nearby Goodison Park which costs £10. Rob Campion informs me; ‘I parked at The Dockers Club, home of Liverpool County Premier League side Waterloo Dock on Townsend Lane (A580) at a cost of £5. It is then a 15 minute walk to Anfield. I even watched Waterloo Dock v Old Xaverians first, before going to the Liverpool game’. In addition, there is an extensive ‘Residents Only Parking Scheme’ in place in streets around Anfield. This means that in the directions above then the Residents Only Zone starts immediately as you turn left onto Utting Avenue. There is also the option of renting a private driveway near Anfield via YourParkingSpace.co.uk.

Post Code for SAT NAV: L4 0TH.

What is the best way to get to Anfield on match day?

Kirkdale Railway Station is the closest to the ground (just under a mile away). However, it may be more advisable to go to Sandhills Railway Station as this has the benefit of a bus service to the ground, which runs for a couple of hours before and for 50 minutes after a game and drops you within easy walking distance of the ground. The Soccerbus costs Adults (£3.50 return, £2 single), Child (£1.50 return, £1 single).

Gary Beaumont adds: “The best route for away fans from the city centre if they want to use public transport is definitely the Merseyrail Northern Line to Sandhills where they alight and catch the special Soccerbuses; trains can be caught from Liverpool Central and Moorfields. If fans are buying their train tickets in Liverpool, ask for a return to Anfield as opposed to Sandhills even though that’s where you’re getting off. The advantage of doing this is that the train ticket is valid also for the Soccerbus and the additional fare is £3 return as opposed to the £3.50 return that you’d have to pay on the bus if you only bought your ticket to Sandhills. If fans want to get a taxi from Lime Street, they’re about £8.”

Both Sandhills & Kirkdale stations can be reached by first getting a train from Liverpool Lime Street to Liverpool Central and then changing there.

The main railway station in Liverpool is Liverpool Lime Street which is located just over two miles away from the ground and so is quite a walk (although it is mostly downhill on the way back to the station), so either head for Sandhills or Kirkdale stations or jump in a taxi.

How to get to Anfield by bus from Liverpool Lime Street

Craig Hochkins adds: “you can catch various buses from the bus station which is seven minutes walk away from the train station and is well  signposted. Either the 17a 17b 17c or the 26 will drop you right outside the ground at a cost of about a £1. The buses are run by Arriva and the journey takes about 15 to 25 minutes dependant on traffic.”

Paul Denman a visiting Hull City fan informs: “Although the No 17 Bus took only 15 minutes to reach Anfield from the station, after the game it took almost 50 minutes, as the roads were clogged with fans walking home. However, everyone was friendly. I wore my City shirt with pride, never felt threatened even on the bus and had great conversations with the Liverpool supporters.”

Walking Directions From Kirkdale Station:

On exiting from Kirkdale Station turn right and then cross the railway bridge, you will see a pub opposite called the ‘Melrose Abbey’, (which has been recommended). Walk up Westminster Road, alongside the pub and continue along it, passing the Elm Tree pub. Follow the road around the right hand bend and then turn left into Bradewell Street. At the end of Bradwell Street you will come to the busy County Road (A59). Cross over this road at the traffic lights and then go down the road to the left of the Aldi superstore. At the end of this road you will reach the A580 Walton Lane. You should be able to see Goodison Park over on your left and Stanley Park in front of you. Cross Walton Lane and either enter Stanley Park following the footpath through the park (keeping to the right), which will exit into Anfield Road and the away end. Or bear right down Walton Lane and then turn left down the road at the end of Stanley Park for the ground. Thanks to Jon Roche for providing these directions.

From Liverpool Lime Street By Bus Or Taxi

The main railway station in Liverpool is Lime Street which is over three miles from the ground and is really too far to walk (although it is mostly downhill on the way back to the station), so either head for Kirkdale station or jump in a taxi (about £8).

Iain Badger: “The easiest way to get to the ground from the city centre is to use the 917 Special buses from Stand 10 in St John’s Lane. This is just across the road from Lime Street station and down the left hand side of St George’s Hall if you stand outside the rail station looking directly at the hall building. The buses start running three hours prior to kick off and leave every ten minutes, dropping you by the club shop at the ground. The buses run from the other side of the street (Walton Breck Road) for the return journey. A single fare is £2.20 or it is £4 return. The 917 bus takes only 10-15 minutes to get to the ground and doesn’t stop on the route.”

Due to traffic around Anfield and the number of fans leaving then the journey time, will most likely be longer on the return journey.

Unlike a lot of clubs, Liverpool tickets are priced in a consistent manner across their Premier League campaign – as opposed to varying prices based on different category games like many sides do nowadays. Of course, some tickets are still cheaper than others but that’s purely down to where you sit within the stadium. Premier League ticket prices are detailed below in the form of minimum and maximum price.

Adult, £9 to £59

Over 65, £9 to £44

Young Adult, £9 to £29.50

Junior, £9 across the board

European games follow a similar approach to the above with the only competitions that differ being the domestic cup tournaments. With these games, the ticket pricing varies both by stadium and strength of opposition, which is defined by the league standings. For example, games against a Championship side will see lower prices than an all Premier League tie but higher prices than if Liverpool are hosting a League Two team.

Full details can be found on the official club website.

You can also book your tickets with SeatPick.

• Official Programme: £3.50

• The Liverpool Way Fanzine: £2
• Red All Over The Land Fanzine: £2

Official Web Site

www.liverpoolfc.com

Unofficial Web Sites

This Is Anfield
Red And White Kop
The Liverpool Way
LFC History
Anfield Family

Liverpool vs Everton rivalry: Liverpool’s Anfield stadium plays host to some intense rivalries but their meetings against Everton are particularly special; the grudge match dates back all the way to Liverpool’s formation with what was then the Everton hierarchy having a huge fall out over Anfield. It was once home to Everton but they opted for Goodison and a new club – Liverpool – were born. The two grounds are extremely close and the area is full of split households hence the ‘friendly derby’ tag. It’s not that friendly though!

Liverpool vs Manchester United rivalry: The Liverpool vs Manchester United derby started back during the industrial revolution albeit away from football. The reason being that both cities excelled in their own way; Manchester had a booming textile trade whilst Liverpool were cashing in on the fact they were a port city. The creation of the Manchester Ship Canal posed big problems to Liverpool as they lost mammoth volumes of trade and a heat developed between the cities.

So, that’s why the cities have a rivalry but why isn’t the beef there between United and Everton and Liverpool Man City? Well, that’s where football comes into things. Liverpool’s Anfield stadium saw big success as did Old Trafford – it’s been that way for decades. The two clubs have traded blows ever since with Sir Alex Ferguson’s “knocking Liverpool off their ******* perch” speech perhaps the most high profile statement of hatred.

Official Fixture List for Liverpool FC

This bronze statue of Bill Shankly was unveiled outside Anfield in 1997.
The plinth beneath the statue simply reads; ‘He made the people happy’.

The legendary Bill Shankly managed Liverpool FC between 1959 and 1974. In that time the Scotsman brought the Club, three League Championships (1964, 1966, 1973), two FA Cups (1965, 1974) and the UEFA Cup (1973). In addition, the Club were league runners up twice (1969, 1974), losing FA Cup finalists in 1971 and losing European Cup Winners Cup finalists in 1966. Famed for his great one-liners and reflections on the game, he passed away in 1981.

Outside at the back of the Main Stand is a memorial;
”Dedicated to those who lost their lives at the FA Cup Semi Final Hillsborough 15th April 1989.’

The song most commonly associated with Liverpool is ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’

Anfield is filled with history and, as such, it is perhaps unsurprising to learn that the club offer a number of different touring options. These range from standard stadium tours and museum visits through to a ‘legend’s tour’ with each of these tours running on a regular basis.

Costs vary depending on the sort of tour you wish to take but, to give you an idea of the amount your looking at, we’ve detailed the prices for the stadium, museum and ‘boom room’ tour below:

• Adults £23
• Concession £18
• Under 16 £14
• Under 4 FREE

Other Anfield experiences are also available including an ‘Anfield Abseil’, which would make for a unique experience – or gift!

Full details of the tours and other experiences available at the Liverpool stadium are on the official club website.

Anfield has some fantastic matchday hospitality options which are perfect for a family day out, business meetings or just with a couple of friends looking to have a memorable day at the match. There are a range of packages available for various prices and the facilities are some of the best in the Premier League. The demand for Liverpool tickets are extremely high and as a result, Hospitality tickets sell out very fast. Fans can take a look at some of the Liverpool FC matchday hospitality on the club official website and choose which option takes their interest.

However, if you are after a particular match which does not have your tickets available then the secondary market is your best option. Football Ticket Pad are a leading platform and they have numerous matchday hospitality tickets for every Liverpool match at Anfield. This website is a trusted platform and it is always best to check the Trust Pilot rating before purchasing from a secondary ticketing site. Football Ticket Pad has a five-star rating and is one of the leading secondary football ticketing sites in the UK. Supporters wishing to buy hospitality tickets can click here.

Fans visiting Anfield can enjoy the match from the newly constructed Main Stand and experience the matchday hospitality in the Premium Lounge which includes a four course meal, complimentary drinks and an elevated view of the match. Seats in the 1892 Lounge also allow fans the chance to soak up the history of the club and the story behind the Main Stand with match seats next to the Directors Box in the Lower Tier of the Main Stand with a four course meal included. Moreover, hospitality in the Centenary Stand is equally impressive and offers supporters a stunning view of the playing surface with the backdrop of the impressive new Main Stand, allowing fans to see the stadium in all of its glory.

The Centenary Club remains a particular favourite with LFC fans and is a more casual and relaxed environment for fans to enjoy on matchday. Match seats are located in the Upper Tier of the Centenary Stand in the Executive Section. The package also includes a four-course meal and is perfect for small groups of people, housing parties of six or under on a shared table. The Seventies & Eighties Lounge and The Boot Room are two relaxed and informal hospitality options available at Anfield and match seats can be located across the stadium in the Lower Centenary Stand towards the world-famous Kop, or in the Anfield Road End.

For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.

Click Here for the Latest News & Press Conferences

Record Attendance

61,905 v Wolverhampton Wanderers
FA Cup 4th Round, February 2nd, 1952.

Modern All Seated Attendance Record

53,373 v Cardiff City
Premier League, 27th October 2018

Average Attendance

2021-2022: 53,088 (Premier League)

2020-2021: N/A (Covid-19)

2019-2020: 53,143 (Premier League)

2018-2019: 52,983 (Premier League)

2017-2018: 53,049 (Premier League)

If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at: [email protected] and I’ll update the guide.

Special thanks to:

Owen Pavey for providing the ground layout diagram.

Haydn Gleed for providing the YouTube video of Anfield.

Douglas Bagley supplying the external photo of the newly expanded Main Stand and John Greenacre for a photo of the Main Stand taken from the Kop at Anfield.