LIVERPOOL - ANFIELD
DIRECTIONS AND CAR PARKING
Liverpool Football Club Direction Sign Follow the M62 until you reach the end of the motorway (beware of a 50mph speed camera about a 1/4 of a mile from the end of the motorway). Then keep right and take the A5058 Ring Road North, signposted Football Stadia. After three miles turn left at the traffic lights into Utting Avenue (there is a McDonalds on the corner of this junction). Proceed for one mile and then turn right at the Arkles pub for the ground.
Car Parking
The opening of the new Main Stand has increased attendances at Anfield and with it the demand for car parking spaces. This has resulted in the fair sized car park in Stanley Park, now being reserved for permit holders only. There is though still secure parking available at nearby Goodison Park which costs £10. Rob Campion informs me; 'I parked at The Dockers Club, home of Liverpool County Premier League side Waterloo Dock on Townsend Lane (A580) at a cost of £5. It is then a 15 minute walk to Anfield. I even watched Waterloo Dock v Old Xaverians first, before going to the Liverpool game'. In addition, there is an extensive 'Residents Only Parking Scheme' in place in streets around Anfield. This means that in the directions above then the Residents Only Zone starts immediately as you turn left onto Utting Avenue. There is also the option of renting a private driveway near Anfield via YourParkingSpace.co.uk.
Post Code for SAT NAV: L4 0TH.
BY TRAIN
Kirkdale Railway Station is the closest to the ground (just under a mile away). However, it may be more advisable to go to Sandhills Railway Station as this has the benefit of a bus service to the ground, which runs for a couple of hours before and for 50 minutes after a game and drops you within easy walking distance of the ground. The Soccerbus costs Adults (£3.50 return, £2 single), Child (£1.50 return, £1 single).
Gary Beaumont adds; 'The best route for away fans from the city centre if they want to use public transport is definitely the Merseyrail Northern Line to Sandhills where they alight and catch the special Soccerbuses; trains can be caught from Liverpool Central and Moorfields. If fans are buying their train tickets in Liverpool, ask for a return to Anfield as opposed to Sandhills even though that's where you're getting off. The advantage of doing this is that the train ticket is valid also for the Soccerbus and the additional fare is £3 return as opposed to the £3.50 return that you'd have to pay on the bus if you only bought your ticket to Sandhills. If fans want to get a taxi from Lime Street, they're about £8'. Both Sandhills & Kirkdale stations can be reached by first getting a train from Liverpool Lime Street to Liverpool Central and then changing there.
The main railway station in Liverpool is Lime Street which is located just over two miles away from the ground and so is quite a walk (although it is mostly downhill on the way back to the station), so either head for Sandhills or Kirkdale stations or jump in a taxi. Craig Hochkins adds; 'you can catch various buses from the bus station which is seven minutes walk away from the train station and is well signposted. Either the 17a 17b 17c or the 26 will drop you right outside the ground at a cost of about a £1. The buses are run by Arriva and the journey takes about 15 to 25 minutes dependant on traffic'. Paul Denman a visiting Hull City fan informs me; 'Although the No 17 Bus took only 15 minutes to reach Anfield from the station, after the game it took almost 50 minutes, as the roads were clogged with fans walking home. However, everyone was friendly. I wore my City shirt with pride, never felt threatened even on the bus and had great conversations with the Liverpool supporters.'
Walking Directions From Kirkdale Station:
On exiting from Kirkdale Station turn right and then cross the railway bridge, you will see a pub opposite called the 'Melrose Abbey', (which has been recommended). Walk up Westminster Road, alongside the pub and continue along it, passing the Elm Tree pub. Follow the road around the right hand bend and then turn left into Bradewell Street. At the end of Bradwell Street you will come to the busy County Road (A59). Cross over this road at the traffic lights and then go down the road to the left of the Aldi superstore. At the end of this road you will reach the A580 Walton Lane. You should be able to see Goodison Park over on your left and Stanley Park in front of you. Cross Walton Lane and either enter Stanley Park following the footpath through the park (keeping to the right), which will exit into Anfield Road and the away end. Or bear right down Walton Lane and then turn left down the road at the end of Stanley Park for the ground. Thanks to Jon Roche for providing these directions.
PUBS FOR AWAY FANS
Arkles Pub. Just across from the away fans turnstiles is a small fan zone area that also has a bar facility. Whilst inside the ground bottles of Carlsberg (500ml) are available at a cost of £4 each. If it is a pub that you are after then a few minutes walk along Anfield Road is the Arkles (pictured right), which is nearly always full of away fans on matchdays, from early on. The Arkles also has a handy fish and chip shop located just around the corner from it, called John's Supper Bar. Mark Parsons a visiting Aston Villa fan adds; 'We arrived at the Arkles at about 1.15pm and already found it packed out, with fans queuing outside to get in. We asked a very helpful WPC for any other away friendly pubs and were told to go to the Flat Iron which was a five minute walk away. Although the pub was mostly full of Liverpool fans, the bars were mixed and all were very friendly. To find this pub, turn left at the junction where Arkles is (opposite direction to where Anfield is over to your right) onto Anfield Road. Head away from the ground and the pub is down at the bottom of this road on the right hand side'.
WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR VISITING SUPPORTERS?
View From The Anfield Road Away SectionJust under 3,000 away fans can be housed in the Anfield Road Stand at one end of the ground, although this allocation can be increased for domestic cup games. If possible try to avoid getting a ticket for one of the back rows as the view can be restricted with the overhang of the tier above and also with fans standing in front, further blocking the view of the pitch. Kimberly Hill adds; 'Restricted view doesn't even begin to describe what it was like. The Wolves fans insisted on standing so it was like trying to watch the game through a letterbox!' The Anfield Road End is shared with home supporters, some of whom will be sitting in the small seated tier above the away fans.
I have always found it to be a good day out at Anfield, getting the feeling that you are visiting one of the legendary venues in world football. This is enhanced with the teams coming out to 'You'll Never Walk Alone' reverberating around the ground, with the red and white scarves and flags of the fans displayed across the Kop, at the beginning of the match. The atmosphere is normally good, so sit back and enjoy the experience.
The facilities within the stand are not bad. There is a betting outlet and the refreshment kiosks sell amongst other things; 'Scouse Pies', Potato and Meat Pies, Steak Pies, Cottage Pies, Cheese Slices, Sausage Rolls (all £3.50). Plus Hot Dogs (including Halal and Veggie options - all £4).