Liverpool are set to open their new upper tier in the Anfield Road on Sunday for the visit of their major rivals – Theo Squires was in attendance at this week’s test event

One of my fondest match-going memories at Anfield came on my first time in the upper tier of the Anfield Road end.

It was the opening day of the 2010/11 Premier League season and Liverpool were hosting Arsenal. Roy Hodgson was taking charge of his first league game with the Reds, Milan Jovanovic made his English top-flight debut, and David Ngog started upfront because Fernando Torres reported back injured after winning the World Cup with Spain.

From a Liverpool perspective, that match is perhaps best remembered for Joe Cole getting sent off on his league debut for the Reds. While it might be hard to believe that supporters were genuinely excited at his Bosman arrival at the time, his fortunes at Anfield did not improve greatly.

Ngog actually gave Liverpool the lead with an emphatic finish in front of the Kop shortly after half-time. Alas, any hopes of an impressive victory were ended by an uncharacteristic Pepe Reina own goal in the 91st minute.

Meanwhile, Javier Mascherano was arguably the Reds’ star performer in what would prove to be his final appearance for the club. Days later, he refused to play against Man City as he forced through a £17m move to Barcelona.

Looking back, even safe in the knowledge of how much better it would get for Liverpool in the years to come, such memories are enough to make you flinch. For the Reds, it would get worse before it could start to get better. Yet it is still a game I cherish.

I was a couple of days short of my 18th birthday when attending Anfield that day, and set to start university the following month where I was undertaking a Sports Journalism degree at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston. To celebrate both my landmark birthday and imminent rite of passage moving away from home for the first time, my parents surprised me by taking me to this Premier League opener and treating me to a fancy weekend away.

It is the only match I have ever attended with both of my parents. It is also the last match of note I ever went to with my dad, who would sadly pass away less than two years later.

Of course, I didn’t appreciate such a fact at the time as a teenager in the front row of the upper Anfield Road stand, granted the perfect view of Reina throwing the ball in his own net but completely incapable of seeing Cole’s challenge in the corner to our right that prompted his early bath.

But such a match has inevitably grown in meaning to me, and I now have a picture of the three of us standing outside the stadium by the Bill Shankly statue framed and hung up on my living room wall.

I was back in the Anfield Road end on Monday night, taking in a very different viewpoint compared to my standard seat in the Main Stand press box. And it’s safe to say it is completely unrecognisable compared to that game against Arsenal 13 years ago.

But then Anfield has changed massively over the past decade, with redevelopments leaving Liverpool’s iconic ground on the verge of boasting a 60,000 capacity. Such a total has always been the desired number of choice for as long as I can remember, right across my Reds-supporting life, and now it is very nearly a reality.

The redevelopment of the Anfield Road end, an £80m project which will see an additional 7,000 seats and 61,000 seater capacity when fully operational, has not been without its complications and delays. But the end is now in sight, as demonstrated by Monday’s test event.

I was one of 7,500 people to pile into the stand as the club look to obtain the necessary licences from Liverpool City Council. Should permission be granted, a capacity of 57,000 will be allowed, with the upper tier of the stand open to supporters, for the visit of Manchester United this weekend. Such a crowd would be the highest inside Anfield since 1973.

Arriving at Anfield shortly before 6pm, I collected my ticket from the Kop ticket office before joining the queues at the Anfield Road end. Entrance was granted quickly as we scanned ourselves through, before being encouraged to try out the refreshments and facilities on the concourse.

I then took my seat in the Anfield Road lower, sitting in the cold and wishing I had worn a jumper or thicker coat. My thoughts wandered to the boot of my car, when I had foolishly left my hat and gloves. Now 31 years old, the days of my mother reminding me to wrap up warm have long since passed!

For an hour, we were entertained by music over the tannoy. First Christmas classics, such as John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ and Elton John’s ‘Step into Christmas’, before being treated to LFC-inspired songs instead. Not for the first time, the Beatles’ ‘I feel fine’ would ring out across the night air, though supporters would wait before offering the Jurgen Klopp version, before Jamie Webster’s ‘Allez Allez Allez’.

Come 7pm and it was time for the LFC Foundation match as local children walked out to ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, in front of fans singing their hearts out with scarfs aloft, before taking part in an entertaining match – clearly lapping up the opportunity to play at Anfield in front of friends, family, and one very special guest. For the record, the 20-minute game finished 3-0.

The supporters engaged with proceedings, offering ooohs, aaahs, and cheers for every twist and turn, before bursting into an impromptu rendition of, ‘We love you Liverpool, we do!’ This was then followed by one lone voice shouting, ‘Liverpool, top of the league! Liverpool, Liverpool, top of the league!’ in case you needed a reminder. Whatever the occasion, Reds supporters can create an atmosphere.

Following the match, the Voice of Anfield himself, George Sephton, handed down to LFC TV’s Peter McDowall. But rather than reading out any teams, this time he was hosting a special Q&A with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. At least he would be if the microphone decided to play ball!

“That was a good rehearsal!” he joked after his initial introduction of the German was muted. Klopp would then sprint over from the dugout, safe in the knowledge that, unlike when famously celebrating with Alisson Becker after Divock Origi’s Merseyside derby winner in December 2018, this time he was not breaking any rules.

As McDowall and Klopp waited for a replacement microphone, supporters took the opportunity to serenade the German with a rendition of, ‘I’m so glad that Jurgen is a red!’

Waving and bowing to the crowd, the beaming Klopp was clearly touched. A second technical issue then led him to to declare, “It happens when I talk bullshit, the mic stops!” Fortunately, it would cooperate for the rest of the night.

By now, you will likely have already seen or heard Klopp’s light-hearted comments with regards to Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, and Liverpool’s summer transfer business. What has perhaps gone under the radar from such claims is the public admission from the German as to how long the club had been working on a deal for Ryan Gravenberch before signing him on deadline day.

Yet this wasn’t all Klopp had to say as he shared his pride at the sight of a full redeveloped Anfield Road stand.

“Oh I love it, it’s unbelievable,” he said. “When it started, I couldn’t imagine how it would look.

“Seeing it now, I’m really emotional because I’m not sure everyone realises, this is an historical moment and I’m really proud to be here tonight.

“We are the first people to use this wonderful stand. You didn’t see it from this side, I can tell you it looks outstanding, especially with people on it.

“This beautiful new stand, it’s absolutely outstanding and I can’t wait for us to use it.”

If all goes well, Liverpool will use it against Manchester United on Sunday. Anfield is already getting ready for such a game, with the scoreboard already set up for next weekend’s encounter.

And despite the Red Devils’ recent form, Klopp is taking nothing for granted as he looks to unleash the Anfield Road end on Erik ten Hag’s side.

“I don’t like to talk about three points before you have it. It will be a massive game,” he said. “The worse they do before, the more dangerous they are.

“I can’t wait for the atmosphere. I will tell the boys to really try to use it. So whoever is on that stand on Sunday, you better lift your backside! A full throttle performance is required!”

In truth, Anfield has often been subdued so far this season. Early Sunday kick-offs and Europa League ties have not helped matters, with Everton the only rival Liverpool have so far had to host. Consequently, the best atmosphere so far this season arguably came in the final minutes of the Reds’ 4-3 turnaround victory over Fulham.

With Manchester United, West Ham United in the League Cup quarter-finals, Arsenal, and Newcastle United all to visit Anfield over the next three weeks, with Liverpool top of the league, that is certain to change.

“We are now building a new stand which will improve, I’m not sure how that will happen, but improve the best atmosphere in the world anyway,” Klopp told reporters back in September. He is about to get what he wants. The Anfield Road end is ready at the perfect time.

“They told me we have to test the fire alarm. No, no, no, we have to test this stand properly!” Klopp declared after concluding the Q&A, wrestling the microphone back from McDowall. “So, the question is, are you ready? Then get up!”

Much to supporter delight, prior to the fire alarm that would conclude proceedings, Klopp would finish the test event by performing his trademark fistpump celebration, traditionally reserved for the Kop, in front of the Anfield Road end for the very first time.

Considering away supporters are usually sat in the lower tier, it is a rare sight that might not be spotted again. Not unless the German really wishes to antagonise Manchester United supporters on Sunday anyway!

When I first sat in the Anfield Road end back in August 2010, Liverpool had little to cheer about. 13 years on, with Klopp at the helm, it’s a very different story.

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