Liverpool have confirmed that the extension to the Anfield Road end will be delayed and it is not yet known when it might be completed.
Liverpool have confirmed that the new main flight at Anfield Road will remain closed until the end of 2023.
The refurbishment was due to be completed in time for the Reds’ first home game of the season against Bournemouth in August, but was delayed when Buckingham Group – the original contractors for the project – went into administration.
Construction restarted last month with new contractors Raynor Rowen, but according to the ECHO, Liverpool still do not know when the $98m (£80m / €93m) project will be completed, although it will certainly not be until 2024.
The club assessed the situation after all three home games to give a date for supporters to gain access to the new development, which will see Anfield’s capacity increased to around 61,000. New information emerged during the change of contractors, but it has now forced the opening of Liverpool’s top tier to be delayed until at least the new year.
The lower tier remains open as it has been this season, but that means Anfield will operate at a reduced capacity (around 51,000) for key fixtures including Everton, Manchester United and Arsenal.
Liverpool chief executive Billy Hogan said: “Over the past few days it has become clear that the completion of a comprehensive assessment of the project’s timetable is taking longer than we originally thought.
“At the end of the day, it means for supporters that until we have all the information we need, we have to maintain the status quo for the rest of the year, which means the capacity at Anfield will remain the same as the previous home .games we’ve seen this season.
“This is a decision made to allow time for ourselves, external consultants and Rayner Rowen to continue to evaluate the project and ultimately complete the project schedule.”
Wherever you are – US, UK or elsewhere – you don’t want to miss out. Hogan added: “When Buckingham went into administration, we quickly decided to appoint Rayner Rowen Construction as the new contractor, along with a number of other subcontractors, to get the job started as quickly as possible. We started work and were back on site. September 5.
“Essentially, the process now involved a full assessment of where the build program was at the time for about five weeks and then allowing Rayner Rowen to work with our internal teams and gather all the relevant information needed to make an informed decision about what will be changed when the project will be completed.
“Working closely with Rayner Rowen, we were able to outsource over 80% of the remaining work required to complete the section to subcontractors who previously worked under the Buckingham Group.
“The reality is that we are just beginning to get a clear picture of the reality of the delays.”
Liverpool.com says: It’s a shame we haven’t seen the completion of the new top tier yet and it gives Anfield a slightly odd feel on match days. Although not ideal, this latest update will hopefully ensure that the renovations are completed as soon as possible and Anfield can return to its full glory in 2024.
