Stadium renovations continue, but Anfield Road expansion will have to wait

Liverpool will continue their efforts to modernise Anfield this summer but the redevelopment of the club’s training facilities has been accorded precedence over the proposed expansion of the Anfield Road end.

The club have invested in huge sums in enlarging and revamping their iconic home in recent years, their efforts headlined by the comprehensive expansion of the Main Stand and the laying of a new pitch.

The stadium now seats 53,000 supporters, but the club have announced their intentions to potentially take the capacity beyond 60,000 by increasing the size of the Anfield Road end, which currently holds only 9,000 fans.

Whilst fans are understandably eager for renewed expansion to improve their chances of watching Jurgen Klopp’s enthralling outfit on a regular basis, the present priority is the £50million renovation of the Kirkby academy facilities, which will soon replace Melwood as the site of first-team training.

Liverpool’s Chief Operating Officer Andy Hughes outlined their plans at a fan forum on Saturday, stressing that there is little time pressure.

“Our priority right now is the training ground, the contract for which is currently out to tender, and ideally work will begin on that project in July,” Hughes explained.

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KIRKBY, ENGLAND – Wednesday, December 7, 2016: Former Liverpool Under-23 manager Michael Beale looks on as his former charges take on FC Nürnberg during an Under-23 friendly match at the Kirkby Academy. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

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“While this process is continuing, outline planning permission for Anfield Road is in place and does not expire until September 2019, which is later than had been reported in some quarters.

“It’s important to stress that we are applying the same level of rigour to this process as we did to the Main Stand process but Anfield Road is very much a live process and we will look to vary the outline planning permission that we have if necessary.

“From our point of view, there is no shortage of time or effort that is being put into this project to make it as good as it possibly can be. The programme is on track and we are completely committed to this project.

“We definitely can raise the money and we are committed to finding the best possible answer, assuming it is viable from all points of view.”

Meanwhile, there will be more, smaller-scale changes made to the stadium before the 2018/19 season gets underway.

The former Centenary side will become the ‘Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand’ to recognise the club legend’s recent knighthood.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – Sunday, December 10, 2017: Snow falls past the floodlights of the newly renamed Kenny Dalglish Stand, former the Kemlyn Road then the Centenary Stand, before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool and Everton, the 229th Merseyside Derby, at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Fans can look forward to the opening of a new bar in the Kop, which will welcome around 600 supporters before and after games.

As for those watching from their homes around the world, there will be new camera angles, mounted on the middle tier of the Main Stand and so closer to the action, available to broadcasters.

Liverpool kick off the Premier League season at home to West Ham on August 11th.

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Source: anfieldhq.com