Liverpool FC - This is Anfield
Whether you are going for a sporting event, a concert or simply visiting out of hours for the sheer curiosity, here are a few things of interest before you set foot there.
How to Get to Anfield Stadium
The ground is two miles (3 km) from Lime Street station. Matchday bus services go from a stop at St John's Lane, between St George Hall and Queen Square bus station. Regular buses from the city centre: 26 or 27 (Sheil Road Circular) and 17D (Fazakerley). A good option is to take a taxi - similar to a bus or train if few people travel together.
There is a big car park nearby, Stanley Park Car Park (L4 0TQ), it will be full on matchdays, but free to use otherwise. The stadium has no parking facilities, and the streets around the ground allow parking only for residents.
The area around the stadium has a nice spacious feel and its good for walking around, and the Stanley Park few steps away makes a pleasant outdoors.afternnon.
A new Club Superstore on Walton Breck Road, on the corner of the Kop is opened since 2017-18 season. This is part of a "fan zone", with memorials, catering and pre-match entertainment.
At the Anfield Stadium
Anfield stadium has a seating capacity of just over 54,000, sixth-largest in England. It has been the home of Liverpool FC since their formation in 1892. Its genesis is linked with John Houlding, self-made businessman, owner of a brewery, who was also a local politician, philanthropist, and a high degree freemason.
Houlding was first involved with Everton F.C. and found a new pitch for them, at Anfield Road. They didn't like the rent arrangements and moved to Goodison Park where they are now, just across the Stanley Park. John Houlding, with few others fellow brewers decided to establish a new football club since the public interest for the game grew high. It was named Liverpool F.C.
The sole owner of the Liverpool Football Club is Fenway Sports Group, owned by Boston Red Sox, owned and managed by John Henry and chairman Tom Werner.
The club was bought for $477 million in 2010, and it has risen in value since then to $1.49 billion, valuations from 2018 (Source: businessinsider.com).
The Anfield Stands
The stadium has four stands: the Kop, the Main Stand, the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand and Anfield Road Stand.
After Liverpool had won the second League championship in 1906, a new stand was built, named the Spion Kop, after a hill in South Africa. In 1900 a regiment had fought in the Boer War there, many soldiers from Liverpool had lost their lives. Many stadia in England have the Spion Kop stands. Anfield's Kop was the largest in the country.
Main Stand is the oldest stand, the lower section dates from 1906.
Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand, opposite the Main Stand, renamed in 2017 in honour of the club's great former player and manager. It also houses directors' boxes and ground's police station.
Anfield Road stand, called by local Annie Stand or Annie Road End, houses the away fans during matches.
Anfield Memorials
In front of the Main Stand, there is Hillsborough memorial, tributes to the 96 people who died in the 1989 disaster when police mismanagement led to overcrowding and tragic deaths. After Hillsborough, all grounds in the country had been converted into all-seater grounds.
There are also private memorials for fans and most accomplished players.
Inside Anfield Stadium
The highest attendance recorded at Anfield is 61,905 in 1952.
Liverpool did not lose a match at Anfield during the 1893–94, 1970–71, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1987–88, 2008–09 and 2017–18 seasons.
Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley
A statue of Bill Shankly, who successfully led Liverpool for 15 years, between 1959 and 1974, is in front of the Kop, near the visitors' centre. One of his famous statements was: 'The players have the privilege to play for the fans'. He believed in socialism, explaining in his biography that this was not about politics but working for each other and enjoying a share of the rewards.
The Shankly Gates were erected in 1982, with the words You'll Never Walk Alone, the title of the hit song by Gerry and the Pacemakers adopted by Liverpool fans as the club's anthem during Shankly's time as manager. There is a Scottish flag, a Scottish thistle and the Liverpool badge.
In 2019 a statue of Bob Paisley war erected in his famous pose, carrying a player on his back from the pitch. There is Paisley Gateway at the Kop. He guided Liverpool to three European Cups and six League Championships in the 1970s, and 1980s.
Pubs around Anfield
Shankly did not drink himself and he strongly discouraged players from alcohol. However, a pint or two with a meal before the kick-off is a good idea.
The Arkles has been established mostly as the away supporters pub for many years, because of its proximity to Anfield Road Stand. During matchdays, the Red's fans are enjoying the banter there. Famous faces can be spotted after the game but regulars say it is not always safe. Best sticking to the pubs on Walton Breck Road - the road the Kop is on.
The Flat Iron on Walton Break Road, one of the oldest pubs, originally built in the 1850s, distinctive sharp corner shape. It has been remade to its former glory and a cosy boutique hotel reopened. Very popular, friendly atmosphere and loads of memorabilia.
The Sandon is a cult place as a birthplace of both Everton and Liverpool. It was initially used as headquarters for LFC and thus has been forever linked with the supporters' memory. It also had been used as a dressing room for the Liverpool players until a new stand was built in 1895 on the site of the current Main Stand. It was owned by John Houlding and he even bought a house facing the ground - Stanley House on Anfield Road to manage the club first-hand. The Sandon is a hotel with function rooms, the pub itself is extensive with many rooms and a big screen.
The Albert looks a bit tired and of place against the magnitude of the stadium but is famous for the unique atmosphere and singing. There are scarves from around the world and other memorabilia.
Bit further down Walton Breck Road on the left is the Sandon.
The Park, right opposite the Kop and the Albert. It looks dedicated on the outside, there is a big Shankly mural at the back and LFC logo but inside is apparently dingy.
The Twelft Man on Walton Brek Road, heading west, is a big house and a hotel, apparently favourite for couples but had few really bad reviews.
The Stanley on the junction of Walton Breck Road and Sleepers Hill. Favourite with the local supporters as it serves tasty scouse before the game, and it allows standing outside and singing afterwards.
Around Anfield
If you've got a spare minute or two, and are interested in music or history of music, head to Anfield Road where former Brian Epstein house is operating as a hotel. There is a big black Mercedes, we presume it belonged to Brian or is similar to one he once owned. Who was Brian? The famous the Beatles' manager who drag them out of Liverpool to world fame.
Stanley House, mentioned above, on 73 Anfield Road is where John Houlding and fellow brewers had spanned a yarn and plotted to establish LFC. This could be the original place where the idea occurred and evolved.
Heading from the Kop down the Oakfield Road you'll find the Church, a former spiritual shrine now a shrine to the spirits. Quiet, tasteful, family-friendly. It used to be Sam Dodd's Wine Bar, owned by the same people as the Sandon and home to devoted LFC followers.
Anfield District
Most of the houses in Anfield are terraced houses from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly dense around Anfield stadium. In 2012, Liverpool City Council announced plans to regenerate the Anfield area after securing a £25m grant, with a housing association also set to invest.
The area also contains Stanley Park, one of Liverpool's grand Victorian parks, it is a border ground between Anfield Stadium and Goodison Park in Walton.
There are few local shops, a few takeaways, but the area is rather poor in grand scale attraction, apart from the stadium itself.
Anfield is a suburb of Liverpool and the stadium is named after it. In 2019 the area was ranked the 10th most deprived borough in the United Kingdom. For years it was a curiosity for visitor fans to see millions of pounds worth ground in the vicinity of a completely rundown housing. Only a few years ago a new investment started and the buildings are renovated bit by bit, though a lot still remains to be done.
Below you can explore the Anfield area in a moving picture :