A decision has yet to be made on whether Liverpool FC can host concerts at Anfield in July, as a controversial bid to permanently close a road next to the stadium remains in the balance.
The request to change the club's gig rules was discussed by Liverpool City Council last week as part of a wider application to alter the layout of Anfield Road. The two issues are linked, meaning the proposal could still fall through after planning members indicated they were minded to reject it.
Current rules give neighbours a July break
Under existing rules, there must be a 31-day window in July when no events, footballing or otherwise, take place at Anfield, giving residents a break from crowds and disruption. Since June 2019, the 61,000-seater stadium has hosted 21 concerts, including performances by Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, Elton John and the Rolling Stones, with a maximum of six gigs allowed per year under the venue's licence.
Events could only restart at the stadium on Saturday, August 1, under the current terms. The Reds are due to play their first home match of the new season next Sunday, August 9, against Monaco in a friendly.
Club cites promoter demand for July
An initial bid by the club was considered by the city's planning committee in June. Mark Worcester, planning agent for Liverpool FC, said feedback from concert promoters showed "major demand" for venues in July. He said: "A global act was unable to play at Anfield, resulting in lost revenue to the city."
Mr Worcester added: "Anfield is a popular choice for major global artists, some of whom do not perform at any other venue in the north of the country."
In 2024, Liverpool FC tried to remove the rules stopping gigs in July, a move that proved unpopular with the community. Earlier this year, the club returned with an amended proposal that would allow July gigs as long as there was still an unbroken 31-day block without events at some point over the summer. The proposed change would likely affect when home matches are played at the start of the Premier League season.
Residents warn against losing respite
Cllr Portia Fahey, who represents the Everton North ward bordering the stadium, said the impact on residents of Everton and Anfield should not be underestimated. She said: "Concerts often finish after 10pm on weekdays and residents are disturbed by the large crowds, taxi pick-ups and the removal of equipment."
"Their days are also disturbed by road closures and unregulated bus diversions that often leave residents stranded in town or trapped in their homes. Many residents accept, plan ahead and welcome music lovers to their neighbourhood, they do so because they know they won't be disturbed in July."
She added: "To encroach on this respite would be a fundamental mistake and significantly reduce the quality of life for residents of Everton and Anfield. They deserve a peaceful neighbourhood for more than just 31 days a year. Everyone knows that they have to plan their movements around events at Anfield stadium, but this sacrifice should not be taken for granted and thrown away, for the sake of corporate profits."
Road closure linked to safety concerns
For the past five years, a section of Anfield Road between Alroy Road and Skerries Road has been closed while the stand on that side of the stadium was built. Work was completed in 2024, but the road was not reopened to cars, although pedestrians and cyclists were given access.
Sam Ryan, planning consultant for the club, said Anfield was designated as a tier one location given its high visitor numbers, with many using the closed section as a "safe pedestrian route". She also cited the heightened terror threat, which has been raised to "severe", and increased use of hostile vehicles.
Phil Smith, Liverpool City Council's head of building control, told the committee that changes to the setup around the ground could affect the safety certificate issued to Liverpool FC for operating the stadium. He said he was concerned that reintroducing a road would "create a hazard that isn't there at the moment".
Ian Byrne MP, an LFC fan and former councillor who took part in discussions with the club, said he approached the matter with a "sense of sadness and betrayal" and accused the club of having "shafted" residents. Planning members voted to indicate they were minded to reject the proposals on grounds of residential amenity, traffic flow and environmental nuisance.
The application is due to go before the committee for a third and final time, when the council will be asked to formally decide whether to reject it. The ECHO understands Liverpool FC is reserving any comment until the procedures have been completed.
