Anfield has been changed over the last eight years, with capacity increasing by 33%.
Following the refurbishment of the Main Stand in 2016 and the extension of the Anfield Road Stand over the last two years, the stadium can currently accommodate slightly under 61,000 fans.
However, in an interview with The Athletic, club CEO Billy Hogan made it clear that the Kop and Kenny Dalglish Stand will not be undergoing similar renovations anytime soon.
He remarked, “We do not see it progressing beyond where we are today. In 2014, phase one was the Main Stand. Phase two included the Anfield Road Stand. The goal was always to get us to a point where the capacity exceeded 60,000. We’ve done it now. There are no plans to expand the stadium.
The Liverpool manager also stated that, following some last changes to the Anfield Road Stand over the summer, the stadium will be ‘totally operational’ for the home game against Brentford on August 25, which will be Arne Slot’s first competitive match at the Merseyside venue.
FSG may face a lot of justifiable criticism from certain Liverpool fans for their apparent frugality in the transfer market, but even their harshest critics can’t deny that the expansion of Anfield over the last decade is one of their greatest achievements at the club.
The stadium might be double its current capacity and still not meet ticket demand, such is the size of LFC’s global fan base, but committing the resources that it has to extending the venue while the club stays competitive in the pursuit of major trophies is a remarkable achievement.
Of course, there were issues with the Anfield Road Stand redevelopment – the demise of original contractors Buckingham Group contributed significantly to the reopening being delayed by several months – but thankfully, those obstacles were overcome, and the entire venue will soon be ‘fully operational’, as Hogan put it.
The two stands that have not been refurbished under FSG’s supervision do not have the same possibility for growth due to the presence of dwellings in their near neighborhood, hence the stadium’s external appearance will remain unchanged for the foreseeable future.
It wasn’t always easy, but the work done at Anfield over the last decade has altered the facility dramatically and insured that Liverpool can significantly boost capacity without leaving their famous home.
