Gerry & The Pacemakers' 'You'll Never Walk Alone' is by far the most famous football anthem and can now be heard all over Europe, but nowhere does it sound as beautiful as at a Liverpool home game with a packed Anfield. Triple goosebumps guaranteed.
Liverpool, one of the biggest clubs in the world, is a stronghold full of contrasts. A traditional people’s club with a huge following, famous for the large population movements to away games throughout Europe. In England, the club is, just like the city, not popular at all. People tend to look down on the Scousers who are from the somewhat rawer Liverpool. It only strengthens the unity among Liverpudlians themselves: Those who are caught by the Liverpool virus will never get rid of it.
Anfield has everything. The stadium is impressive and compact at the same time, and everything makes you feel like the stadium is intertwined with the local neighbourhood. Funnily enough, the stadium's first occupant was not Liverpool but rivals Everton, who now play at Goodison Park within walking distance of Anfield. Anfield is one of the stadiums where there is a lot of atmosphere and the local population is still dominant. You will also encounter many tourists in Liverpool, but they do not have the upper hand at all. A brand new Main Stand arose a few years ago at Anfield, a gigantic behemoth that brought the stadium's capacity to 54,000. With this new grandstand, built with beautiful camel-coloured stones, the stadium can now be seen from all over the city.
It is considered the worst football disaster in British football history. The Hillsborough disaster in Sheffield during an FA Cup semi-final, caused 96 Liverpool fans to crush to death. As if it wasn't tragic enough, the government and the national press (the sensationalist newspaper The Sun first) blamed them for the whole drama. Only a few years ago was their justice for the victims: Not the supporters, but the police had made huge mistakes that had led to the disaster. Hillsborough is a scar on the soul of every Liverpool fan and will never be forgotten. In the stadium's forecourt, below the Main Stand, is the Hillsborough Memorial, with the names of all the supporters who lost their lives in the disaster.
This tribute to former manager Bill Shankly is known around the world, the large gate with the gold letters 'You'll Never Walk Alone' above it. When it was opened in 1982 (by Shankly's widow), it was not anticipated that decades later this would become the iconic selfie spot around Liverpool's home games that it is today. After the recent refurbishment of Anfield, the gates have moved slightly, they can still be found on Anfield Road, but nowadays between the Anfield Road Stand and the Centenary Stand.
Liverpool is bursting with good pubs, especially around Anfield, the most notable are The Albert and The Park, both along Walton Breck Road, in the shadow of the stadium. The Albert is the most famous and is completely covered with flags and scarves from clubs from all over the world, brought in by supporters from all over the world.
The Park is across the street. Walk around the building to see Bill Shankly's beautiful mural and the heads of other legendary executives.
At Liverpool, they do a great job of keeping their past heroes’ memories alive, including the great managers Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley, both architects of Liverpool's history of success.
It is therefore not surprising that both gentlemen are honoured with a statue. Bill Shankly stands behind The Kop next to the entrance (see photo), whilst Bob Paisley stands a little further next to the large megastore of the club. Emlyn Hughes, Liverpool player, is carried off the field by his manager on Paisley's back. The image is based on a special photo of the two.
Throughout Liverpool you will come across great street art in many places with topics that are important to the city, such as The Beatles and of course also Liverpool FC. We have listed the most beautiful tributes to the club:
On the corner of Sybil Road and Anfield Road, we see 'local hero' Trent Alexander-Arnold, seen from the back with a delightful quote from the right-back: “I'm just a normal lad from Liverpool whose dream has just come true.”
Opposite Alexander-Arnold we find captain Jordan Henderson with the coveted Premier League Cup of 2020.
A little further from the stadium we find successful coach Jürgen Klopp, not far from the city centre. On the corner of Jamaica Street and Jordan Street hangs a painting of the German with his hand on his heart and the club's special motto: “We are Liverpool. This means more.”
We also find Klopp near Anfield on the facade of Klopp's Guest Rooms, where you can rent a room cheaply around matches, located on Houlding Street.
If we can recommend another hotel, Hotel Tia is what you want as a football fan. This hotel on Anfield Road is – of course – a stumbling distance from the stadium. It has Liverpool FC-style rooms and transforms into a sea of Red on match days who come here for their pre-match drinks. The bar with historic Liverpool shirts is a real gem.
Liverpool is a real football city and it is not only thanks to Liverpool FC. Walk from Anfield through Stanley Park and within ten minutes you are in front of Goodison Park. Those looking for the charm of the lower leagues can find Tranmere Rovers, who play in League Two, across the Mersey in Birkenhead. If you prefer to go a little lower, Marine FC is a great option, a typical non-league club with people in the backyard most famous recently for facing Tottenham in an FA Cup tie.
Liverpool is one of the toughest clubs to get tickets for, especially now that the club is experiencing such successful years with a Champions League and its first league title since 1990. Becoming a member is a requirement to have a chance at all and even then it is quite a task because the entire system runs on the basis of 'loyalty points', a point system based on how often you have already been there. Our tip: Aim for the FA Cup weekend in January, provided Liverpool draw home. Another option are football travel agencies.
Anfield is located in the heart of the neighbourhood of the same name in the north of Liverpool. Given its location in an old residential area, the stadium is not easily accessible by public transport, although there are options: Bus 917 runs from Lime Street Station to the stadium. From Liverpool One shopping centre you must take bus 26. If you are not in the area, it is better to take a taxi.
Images: Shutterstock
