Key facts
Club: Liverpool FC | Opening: 1884 | Capacity: 54,074 seats
History and description
Anfield was built in 1884, but got initially rented by Everton FC. The first game at the ground, on the 28th of September 1884, saw Everton beat Earlstown 5-0.
In 1891, Everton moved out of Anfield after a dispute over the rent, and one year later newly-founded Liverpool moved in. Their first match at Anfield was a 7-1 win over Rotherham.
Anfield underwent several developments in the late 19th and early 20th century, among which in 1895 the construction of a new main stand designed by Archibal Leitch and a decade later the construction of the famous Spion Kop.
The ground remained more or less the same for the next two decades until the Kop got expanded in 1928. Once completed, it could hold about 30,000 fans.
Anfield set its record attendances in 1958 when 61,905 people attended a match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Further improvements were made between 1963 and 1973, when the old Main Stand got demolished and replaced with a new one.
Anfield did not host any matches during the 1966 World Cup, which were instead played at neighbouring Goodison Park.
In the 1980s, a start was made to convert the stadium into an all-seater, and in 1982 the famous Shankly Gates were erected. The last significant changes to the stadium were made in the 1990s, first with the rebuilding of the two-tiered Centenary Stand, then with the conversion of the Kop into an all-seater stand, and finally in 1998 with the construction of a second tier on the Anfield Road Stand.
Anfield was one of the playing venues of the Euro 1996 tournament, during which it hosted three group matches and the quarter-final between France and the Netherlands (0-0).
In the late 2000s, Liverpool contemplated moving away from Anfield to a larger and more modern stadium, and even obtained planning permission for a new 60,000-seater stadium at nearby Stanley Park. However, insufficient funding delayed the plans, which were finally discarded in 2012 by the new owners of the club.
Instead, the ownership opted to redevelop and expand Anfield. The first phase involved the reconstruction of the Main Stand, which increased capacity with 8,500 seats to a total of 54,047. Works started in January 2015 and were completed right before the start of the 2016-17 season.
If there is sufficient demand, plans also include a possible expansion of the Anfield Road Stand, which would result in a final capacity of about 59,000 seats.
(photos of the present Anfield below)
How to get to Anfield
Anfield is located about 2 miles north of Liverpool city centre in the middle of the Anfield area. Just half a mile away, separated by Stanley Park, lies Goodison Park, home of Liverpool rivals Everton.
If coming by car from the M57 north, exit at junction 4 toward Liverpool/A580. Follow the A580 toward the city for almost 4 miles, and, after having passed Walton Hall Park on your right, turn left onto Queens Drive (A5058). After half a mile turn right at the traffic lights onto Utting Avenue. Continue until you see the ground on your right.
If arriving from the south or east, approach the city on the M62 and follow for A5058 Queens Drive. Stay on the A5058 for about 3 miles, and turn left at the traffic lights at Utting Avenue. Continue until you see the stadium on your right.
If using public transport, take bus 17 from Queens Square bus station, which lies almost opposite Liverpool Lime Street train station in Liverpool’s centre. Alternatively, one can take bus 26 or 27 from Paradise street, also in the centre, or bus 917 from St John’s Lane. All buses leave you directly at the ground.
Address: Anfield Road, Liverpool, L4 0TH
Eat, drink, and sleep near Anfield
Anfield is located in Liverpool’s Anfield area, which used to be rather derelict but has somewhat regenerated in recent years. It is bordered on one side by Stanfield Park and by terraced housing on the other sides. There is little to see and do around the stadium, though there are a few pubs for pre-match drinking. Expect them to get crowded though.
Of course, there are plenty of eating and drinking options in Liverpool’s city centre. Most of the nightlife is situated south and west of Liverpool Lime Street station (e.g. Concert Square and Mathew Street) and around the Albert Dock.
There are a few hotels near Anfield for those who wish to stay close to the football action. Soccer Suite, The Cabbage Hall Hotel, and Hotelanfield are all at short walking distance of Anfield and get decent to good reviews, while there are a few more options in pubs or private residences. Click here for an overview of all hotels near Anfield
If you plan to spend more time in Liverpool, it will likely be more convenient to pick a hotel closer to the city centre, where there are many options.
Liverpool Tickets
Tickets for Liverpool games can be bought online only.
Liverpool sell out all of their Premier League matches. Tickets for lower-profile matches do occasionally go on general sale, but it is advised to purchase them as soon as they do roughly 6 weeks before the game.
LFC Official Members receive priority access to tickets. Membership prices currently start at £26.99. The club also offers more expensive Hospitality packages that tend to be more easily available.
Tickets range in price from £37.00 for a seat in one of the corners of The Kop to £59.00 for a lower-tier seat at the Main Stand.
You can find a seating plan here.
Anfield stadium tours
Liverpool offer guided stadium tours that include access to the Liverpool FC museum. The tour lasts approximately 60 minutes. Liverpool also offer more expensive Legends tours.
Note that during the redevelopment works on the Main Stand, tours are limited to the Centenary Stand and does not include the actual dressing rooms, players’ tunnel, and dugout.
Tours run every day of the week multiple times a day roughly between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. Check online for an up-to-date schedule and availability.
Bookings can be made online. Walk-ups are allowed but subject to availability and it is therefore advised to book the tour in advance.
The tour costs £17.00.
Photos of Anfield
Relevant Internet links
Liverpoolfc.tv – Official website of Liverpool FC.
Visitliverpool.com – Liverpool tourist information.
Merseytravel.gov.uk – Public transport travel information for the Merseyside area.
8 comments
There are dozens of excellent restaurants and bars NORTH of Lime Street Station and St George’s Plateau, including, on Hope Street, the magnificent Victorian public house The Philharmonic Hotel (Liverpool is blessed with nineteenth century pubs that have survived in their original splendour) and the prize-winning Pen Factory, run by the doyen of Liverpool’s restaurateurs, Paddy Byrne.
The recent transformation of the stadium and the immediate surroundings is remarkable. Gradually the Victorian terraced houses and being re-furbed or replaced with, err, Elizabethan terraced houses A fan since the mid-sixties, I think the residents are absolute gems – putting up with huge invasions 25 or more times a year and an incredibly wealthy and dominant neighbour.
The stadium itself is very good, noisy and safe.
I do not usually do this sort of thing. so: the area around the stadium was in fact a fairly prosperous and aspirational middle class part of town when football was first played here (it was home to Everton from 1878 to 1891). The present problem with the houses is that Liverpool bought up the properties, some years ago, to accommodate development which never happened until the recent development. thus the area was left to rot by its richest inhabitant. I have been going to Anfield since 1969.
I have followed this club for many many years, from losing to Wimbledon in the fa cup to victory in Istanbul. Like it or not though the area around the club is an absolute shit hole. It looks more like a war zone than a place where people live. Thoroughly decent and hardworking people mostly. Great to be around. I hope that the regeneration is completed quickly so that the pride of the people who live here can be restored.
I travel to Anfield (and aways) for 90 – 100% of games, and although I find most people reasonable and decent (regardless of their social circumstances – most ‘old’ grounds were built close to where the (working class) local supporters lived!) I can honestly say that there are indeed ‘a lot of lovely people’ in Liverpool, people like irene. You have to remember, you are a guest when entering other peoples neighbourhoods, and imagine these people using your street/estate/etc. as a route to the ground. With-out question, L4 is the friendliest, and best place to go and watch football!!!
My wife got me a tour ticket for me and the family , I hadn’t been to a ground since the Hillsborough disaster , everyone at anfield made me feel so welcome and at ease , they treat everyone as family, its the most friendliest place in Britain, it doesn’t matter who you support you will allways be made welcome at the home of football. Many thanks to every one at the club ‘.
Thankyou for that review The Growlerr.. it was really nice of you to call the place where i live which isn’t far from the ground. For your info i know its a dump.. but i don’t think its very nice of you to say so. One day you will not be able to get a place to live around here once it has been re-generated.. it will be so high in demand.
Also there are a lot of lovely people who live around here…..
My one and only visit to Anfield and it was a throw back, around outside was a dump and very crammed. However once inside this ground still has the magic of football of old, the Kop is an impressive stand considering how modern stands are, I think they done well to keep it as original as possible. The stand the players come out though was more impressive as it just has that 80s Liverpool greatness about it???