Anfield Expansion under way

Work on the redevelopment of Anfield, home to Liverpool FC, has been continuing since the end of the season and this week saw the arrival of two of the UK’s largest cranes on site, as work on the expansion of the main stand reaches a landmark stage.

After years of debate in deciding whether the world famous club should leave Anfield and build a new home in nearby Stanley Park, the club decided the best option would be to stay at the 131 year old stadium and expand the Main Stand.

In December 2014, the club announced its plans to add around 8,500 seats, increasing the Main Stand capacity to over 20,000. This will see the ground’s total capacity increased to 54,000.

The 252ft high AK680 and AK912 cranes will work together to place the 650 tonne roof truss on the Main Stand. Engineers will assemble the cranes on the development over the coming weeks, with the roof expected to in place before the new season begins in August.

The lift will be subject to wind conditions, with the cranes using special wind monitoring gauges to ensure work is carried out in safe conditions.

Liverpool have asked to begin their Premier League campaign away from home and no home friendlies will take place in the pre-season.

The £114M Main Stand expansion remains on target to be completed at some point during the 2016-17 season. The new stand will comprise of three tiers, with the existing lower tier being modified to allow for a widened player tunnel, disabled spectator areas, team and management dug outs and media platform.

Andrew Parkinson, Liverpool FC Operations Director said: “The arrival of these huge cranes is a real sign of the progress being made here at Anfield and following meticulous planning, it is fantastic to see it coming together. The roof lift is a vital part of our programme to build an expanded Main Stand and we’ve called on the biggest cranes in the country to complete this crucial task.”

Once completed, the Main Stand will become one of the largest all-seater single stands in Europe, meaning the famous Liverpool skyline is set for another landmark as the giant stand at Anfield will feature the club’s iconic crest.

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