Liverpool have written to Burnley to request to reverse their opening home game of the new 2016/17 Premier League season, due to the ongoing building work on Anfield’s new Main Stand.
The new Main Stand was initially planned to be ready for the start of 2016/17, when work began in January 2015. Liverpool later changed their wording to ‘during the 2016/17 season’ and then ‘later this year’.
Speaking to the supporters committee in May, chief executive Ian Ayre said the new stand would be “open by the end of August 2016.”
It was revealed then that the stand itself would be ready, but internal work on the changing rooms and media areas would continue to January 2017.
Seemingly, August 20th – when the Reds are currently scheduled to host newly promoted Burnley – is too soon for the Main Stand to be ready.
If Burnley accept Liverpool’s request, the Reds’ first home game will instead be against Leicester City on September 10th – allowing a further three weeks for construction, and also – perhaps crucially – the pitch to be re-laid.
Burnley though may not be too keen on the switch, as that would mean they would face four consecutive away games in late March / early April – likely in the midst of a relegation fight.
Work at Anfield continues around the clock to get the new stand ready, with the new middle tier being put in place in the last week.
Once complete, the new Main Stand will take Anfield’s capacity to around 53,800. Liverpool were in talks over a naming rights partner for the new stand but have yet to announce any deal.
Fan Comments