Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has revealed his excitement after the plans to expand the Anfield Road stand were announced on Wednesday. The construction should see Anfield boosted by another 7,000 spectators, taking the stadium’s overall capacity to 61,000, the third-highest in the Premier League. Costing £60m, it is the latest investment from Liverpool’s owners FSG in building to improve the club’s long-term future, having already dedicated a combined £160m to the previous expansion of the Main Stand and the creation of the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby . The Reds spent £36m in the summer transfer window, compared to their more lavish title rivals. Klopp is aware that discussing Liverpool’s ownership can be a divisive topic, but he commended his bosses for planning towards the future.
Jurgen Klopp said: “From time to time our owners get some criticism for this or that, but we should really not forget that they gave us more space already and now another 7,000. That is great news for the club for the future. Giving 7,000 more people the opportunity to watch this wonderful team playing football is great. And it will look good as well, how we saw with the last stand we built. It’s good, it’s really good, very exciting. Have to wait for it – difficult – but now I know it will happen so I want to have it tomorrow actually.”
Liverpool ’s long-term approach was mirrored in the transfer market, as the Reds focussed on securing the futures of several key players, such as Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, and even Harvey Elliott. The Anfield Road expansion, combined with the Main Stand, means that FSG will have increased Anfield ’s capacity by more than 15,000, signalling the owners’ focus on higher sustainable profits. With the announcement detailing that the revamped stand should be ready in time for the 2023-24 campaign, Klopp has shared his delight and admitted he already can’t wait for the work to be completed.
Jurgen Klopp said: “I am [really excited] and I really hope they will finish it in time. What did they say? 2023-24? I really will kick their butts that they will be ready for that moment Next we have a nice event – the ground breaking. I will be there, that’s a nice moment but a much nicer moment is when it’s then finished. There’s some work to do in between but what I really like about the club is that we really work on the future, these kind of things.”
