Anfield is easily accessible from all major routes into Liverpool. The ground is only 3 miles from the city centre, 4 miles from the M62 and 7 miles from the end of the M57 and M58. the ground is well signposted from the city centre. Weekday vistors to the Club can park in either the Main Stand or the Centenary Stand car parks, except on mid-week match-days and subject to available spaces. Please click on the map above to see the location.
When the referee blows his whistle for the match to start, few people amongst the capacity crowd of 45,000 are aware of all the hard work which has taken place to ensure the game is played.
The build-up to a typical match starts as early as 7.00am for a scheduled 3.00pm kick off. It is vital that the stadium is checked thoroughly to enable the match to take place. The ground must be clean and tidy and there are many safety checks to carry out in order that the Safety Certificate can be issued. Amongst the checks are the electronic gates, counting mechanism on turnstiles, fire alarm systems, internal telephone system, CCTV system and every lamp within the stadium.
The head stewards will arrive five or six hours before the kick-off to man the main entrances, ensuring the flow of supporters into the stadium is conrolled. The club will open the turnstiles some 1.5hrs before kick-off to allow fans to access the stadium in complete safety. Guests in the commercial lounges will be allowed into the stadium three hours before the match when they have a meal prior to kick-off. On a match day, the club employs in excess of 1000 extra people to ensure a smooth operation.
Total Capacity - 45,370
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Anfield playing dimensions are 111 yards long and 74 yards wide. During the playing season the grass is cut twice a week and in the close season when the grass grows more rapidly, it is cut four times a week. The grass is one inch high during the playing season and two inches high at other times.
Improved features at anfield for the 1998/99 season are new playing surface, a new drainage system, a new under-soil heating system and a new perimeter track. The playing surface is grown from a special combination of seed which incorporates three varieties of rye grass. This special process enabled the pitch to be fit for play, just six weeks after sowing and in time for Liverpool's friendly match against Inter Milan in August 98.
The drainage system incorporates pipes every five metres across the pitch. These are connected to a major drain, which in turn runs down the length of the pitch on the Centenary Stand side. The undersoil heating system has been laid some 13 inches down, gravel placed on top and finished with a mix of 83% sand and 17% soil. The previous system was laid in 1981 - this has been removed and replaced with 15 miles of plastic piping. There is also a rubber shock pad which replaces the shale surface and provides the perfect finishing touch. The marking of the white lines on the pitch takes place the day before match-day and is dependent on the weather. Great emphasis is placed upon the weather forecasts to determine when to mark the pitch and the type of equipment that should be used to ensure the game takes place.
On a match day, the two Anfield groundsmen will be assisted by two or three extra ground staff from the Club's training headquarters at Melwood. They will assist at half time by replacing divots and will also help at full-time for approximately two hours to restore the pitch to a level surface. In the Autumn the groundstaff work for seven days a week and this hard work ensures the pitch is suited to the talents of the players of both sides to provide top class entertainment. (Please refer to the above pictures)