Anfield facts for kids
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| Address | Anfield Road |
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| Location | Anfield Liverpool, England L4 0TH |
| Public transit |  Kirkdale |
| Owner | Liverpool F.C. |
| Executive suites | 64 |
| Capacity | 61,276 |
| Record attendance | 61,905 (Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers, 2 February 1952) |
| Field size | 101 by 68 metres (110.5 yd × 74.4 yd) |
| Surface | GrassMaster |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1884 |
| Opened | 1884 |
| Renovated | 1895, 1903, 1906, 1928, 1957, 1963, 1973, 1982, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2014–2016, 2021–2024 |
| Tenants | |
| Everton (1884–1892) Liverpool (1892–present) |
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Anfield is a famous football stadium in Liverpool, England. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since the club started in 1892. Before that, another team called Everton played there from 1884 to 1891.
Anfield can hold 61,276 fans, making it the fifth-largest football stadium in England. It has four main sections, called stands: the Spion Kop, the Main Stand, the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand, and the Anfield Road End. The most people ever to watch a game here was 61,905 in 1952.
After a big report in 1994, all stadiums in England had to have seats for everyone. This meant Anfield's capacity became smaller for a while. Two gates and two statues at the stadium honor former Liverpool managers, Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley, who were very important to the club's history.
For a time, there were plans to build a new stadium nearby. However, in 2010, the club's new owners decided to make Anfield even better instead. They expanded the Main Stand, which opened in 2016, and then the Anfield Road Stand, which was finished in 2024. These changes made the stadium bigger and more modern.
Contents
Anfield's Story: How It Began
The stadium gets its name from the area around it, also called Anfield. This name comes from old English words meaning "a field on a slope." People have used the name Anfield for this area since at least 1642. Some think the name might also be linked to Irish people who moved to Liverpool in the 1850s.
Anfield first opened in 1884. It was owned by John Orrell, who was a friend of John Houlding, an important person at Everton. Everton needed a new place to play because their old ground was too noisy. Orrell let them use his field for a small rent. Everton played their first game at Anfield on September 28, 1884, winning 5–0.
During Everton's time at Anfield, they built stands for the fans. The stadium could hold about 20,000 people and was even used for international games. Everton became very good and won the league championship in the 1890–91 season while playing at Anfield.
How Liverpool F.C. Started at Anfield
In 1892, John Houlding and the Everton committee had a disagreement about how the club was run. This led to Everton moving to a new stadium called Goodison Park. Houlding was left with an empty stadium. So, he decided to create a new football club to play there. This new team was called Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool F.C. played its first friendly match at Anfield on September 1, 1892, winning 7–1. Their first official league game at Anfield was on September 9, 1893, against Lincoln City, which Liverpool won 4–0.
Building the Famous Stands
In 1895, a new stand was built where the Main Stand is today. It was designed by a famous architect, Archibald Leitch, and had a unique red and white roof. In 1903, another stand was added at the Anfield Road end.
After Liverpool won their second league championship in 1906, a new stand was built along Walton Breck Road. A local journalist named it the Spion Kop. This name came from a famous hill in South Africa where many British soldiers, including some from Liverpool, died in a battle in 1900. The Kop became known for holding the most passionate fans. Around the same time, the Kemlyn Road stand was also built.
In 1921, a special football match was held at Anfield for charity. The famous Dick, Kerr Ladies team played against a team of the best players from Britain. 25,000 fans watched as Dick, Kerr Ladies won 9–1.
Changes Over the Years
The Kop was made much bigger in 1928, able to hold 30,000 standing fans, and a roof was added. In the same year, a flagpole was put up next to the new Kop. This flagpole was actually the top part of the SS Great Eastern, one of the first iron ships ever built.
In 1957, Floodlights were installed so games could be played at night. The old Kemlyn Road stand was replaced in 1963 with a new, modern stand. More changes happened in 1973 when the Main Stand was partly rebuilt and made bigger.
The famous Shankly Gates were put up in 1982 to honor former manager Bill Shankly. Above the gates are the words "You'll Never Walk Alone," which is the club's anthem.
Safety Changes and Modernization
After a sad event called the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, a report said that all football stadiums in England must have seats for every fan. This meant big changes for Anfield.
In 1992, the Kemlyn Road stand was made into two levels and renamed the Centenary Stand. It had new seating and special areas. The Kop was also rebuilt in 1994 to have only seats, which reduced its capacity to 12,390.
A bronze statue of Bill Shankly was put up in front of the Kop in 1997. It shows him with a scarf, and the words "Bill Shankly – He Made The People Happy" are on it. Another statue, honoring Bob Paisley, was unveiled outside the Main Stand in 2020.
The Anfield Road end was also rebuilt in 1998, adding a second level.
Anfield's Design and Features
Anfield has 60,725 seats across its four stands: the Anfield Road End, the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand, the Kop, and the Main Stand. The Anfield Road End and Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand have two levels, the Kop has one, and the Main Stand has three. Fans enter the stadium using special smart cards instead of old-fashioned turnstiles.
The Kop: Heart of the Fans
The Kop is a large, single-level stand. It used to be a huge area where fans stood, holding over 30,000 people. Today, it's all-seated and doesn't have executive boxes. The Kop is home to the club's museum, a learning center, and the official club shop. The fans who sit in the Kop are called "kopites" and are known for being the loudest and most passionate supporters.
The Main Stand: History and Inspiration
The Main Stand is the oldest part of Anfield, though it was greatly expanded in 2016. The lower part of the stand dates back to 1906. This stand holds the directors' box and the VIP areas. The players' tunnel, where players walk onto the pitch, is in the middle of this stand.
Above the tunnel entrance, there's a famous sign that says "THIS IS ANFIELD." Former manager Bill Shankly put it there in 1972 to make opposing teams feel nervous and to bring good luck to Liverpool players. Liverpool players and staff often touch the sign as they walk out. After winning the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final, players were allowed to touch it again, as manager Jürgen Klopp had previously asked them not to until they won a major trophy.
Other Stands
The Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand has two levels. It used to be called the Kemlyn Road Stand and was expanded in 1992. It's across from the Main Stand and has executive boxes. In 2017, it was renamed to honor Kenny Dalglish, a legendary player and manager for the club.
The Anfield Road Stand is where visiting fans sit during matches. It was rebuilt in 1965 and then again in 1998 to add a second level.
Anfield also has special areas for fans with disabilities. There are spaces for wheelchair users and for visually impaired fans, who get headsets with live commentary.
Honoring Club Legends
The stadium has special gates that honor two of Liverpool's most successful managers. The Paisley Gateway celebrates Bob Paisley, who won many trophies, including three European Cups. The gates show the three European Cups he won and the crests of his hometown and Liverpool. The Shankly Gates, honoring Bill Shankly, are at the Anfield Road end. They feature a Scottish flag, a Scottish thistle, the Liverpool badge, and the words "You'll Never Walk Alone."
Anfield's Big Makeover
New Stadium Plans That Didn't Happen
Back in 2002, Liverpool F.C. first thought about building a brand new stadium near Anfield in a place called Stanley Park. The idea was for a stadium that could hold 61,000 fans. There were even talks about sharing the new stadium with local rivals Everton, but neither club wanted to do that.
In 2007, new owners of Liverpool F.C. redesigned the proposed stadium. It was planned to open in 2011 and would have meant demolishing Anfield. However, due to money problems and a global financial crisis, the new stadium plans were put on hold and eventually canceled. The new owners, Fenway Sports Group, decided it was better to improve Anfield instead.
Expanding Anfield: Phase One
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In 2010, the new owners confirmed they wanted to stay at Anfield and make it bigger. They felt the atmosphere, especially in the Kop, was unique and couldn't be copied anywhere else.
In 2014, Liverpool announced plans to expand the Main Stand. This involved adding a new third level, which would create 8,500 more seats and bring the stadium's total capacity to 54,742. Construction began in December 2014. The new stand was built around the old one so games could still be played. The old stand was then taken down in summer 2016.
The new Main Stand opened on September 9, 2016, for the first home game of the 2016–17 season. It was a big success, and the stadium felt much more modern. After this, a new club superstore and a "fan zone" with food and entertainment were also built.
Expanding Anfield: Phase Two
The second part of Anfield's redevelopment was to expand the Anfield Road Stand. The club wanted to add more seats to bring the total capacity to over 61,000. The plan focused on making the upper level of the stand bigger, while the lower level stayed the same.
Construction started in September 2021. The work was done behind the existing stand, so it didn't stop games from being played. The new stand was mostly finished and opened for fans during the 2023–24 season. This expansion cost about £80 million and added 7,000 more seats, making Anfield an even bigger and better place to watch football.
Other Events at Anfield
Anfield isn't just for Liverpool F.C. matches; it has hosted many other exciting events.
International Football and Women's Games
The stadium has hosted many international football games, including matches during UEFA Euro 1996. England has played several times at Anfield, and the Welsh national team has also used it.
In recent years, Anfield has also hosted Women's Super League matches. In November 2019, it held its first women's Merseyside Derby between Liverpool Women and Everton Women. These games have drawn large crowds, showing the growing popularity of women's football.
Rugby League and Other Sports
Anfield has also been a venue for rugby league matches. It hosted the 2016 Rugby League Four Nations Final and the 2019 Magic Weekend, where several rugby league games are played over one weekend.
In the past, Anfield has seen other sports too, like Boxing matches, including a World Featherweight title fight in 1934. Even tennis and basketball exhibition games have been played on the pitch.
Concerts and Other Gatherings
Beyond sports, Anfield has welcomed famous musicians and speakers. In 1984, American speaker Billy Graham held events there, attracting huge crowds.
More recently, Anfield has become a popular concert venue. In 2008, Paul McCartney performed there as part of Liverpool's European Capital of Culture celebrations. Since 2019, many big names like Take That, Bon Jovi, Pink, Elton John, the Rolling Stones, and the Eagles have played at the stadium. In June 2024, Taylor Swift performed three sold-out shows as part of her Eras Tour, bringing in over 62,000 people for one of the highest non-sporting attendances ever at Anfield.
Anfield's Records
The highest number of people ever to attend a sporting event at Anfield was 61,905. This was for a Liverpool match against Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1952. The highest non-sporting attendance was over 62,000 for a Taylor Swift concert in June 2024.
Liverpool has had many amazing unbeaten runs at Anfield. From January 1978 to January 1981, they didn't lose a single league match at home for 85 games! Their longest unbeaten home run in the league was 68 games, from April 2017 to January 2021. The club also holds the record for the most consecutive league wins at home in English top-flight history, with 24 wins in a row across the 2018–19 and 2019–20 seasons.
Getting to Anfield
Anfield stadium is about 2 miles (3.2 km) from Lime Street Station, which is a main train station. The closest train station to Anfield is Kirkdale Station, about 1 mile (1.6 km) away.
Fans traveling by train can use a special bus service called Soccerbus from Sandhills Station to get to the stadium. There isn't much parking at the stadium itself, and streets around it are usually for residents only.
Images for kids
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The topmast rescued from the SS Great Eastern
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The Shankly Gates were put up in 1982 to honor Bill Shankly (1913–1981).
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The Paisley Gateway was put up outside the Kop in 1999 to honor Bob Paisley (1918–1996). It shows the three European Cups he won.
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The Kop; the amazing atmosphere created by the fans here made the club's owner reconsider building a new stadium.
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See also
In Spanish: Anfield para niños
