The Athletic’s rating of the top five Premier League stadiums places Anfield among them, although due to a severe flaw, it falls short of taking the top spot.
Each of the 20 stadiums was given a score out of 10 for each of the four weighted criteria, which included matchday experience (40% of the overall score), atmosphere (25%), transport/location (20%), and aesthetics/design (15%).
The working panel of the newspaper, some of its journalists, a stadium architectural historian, and advice from the Football Supporters’ Association all contributed to the decision-making process.
The home stadium of Liverpool came in fifth overall, ranking joint-highest for atmosphere and second for design but badly underperforming for location, where it came in 13th.
In descending order, the Emirates Stadium, Old Trafford, St. James’ Park, and, at the top, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium joined Anfield in the top five.
Although Newcastle’s stadium is conveniently located in the heart of the city and Spurs’ relatively new stadium is a superb location, Liverpool supporters will feel insulted that Anfield was defeated by the stadiums of Manchester United and Arsenal.
Given that it is situated in a residential area and has limited parking options, travelling to and from the Reds’ historic stadium on gamedays can be challenging. The only public transportation option is a bus service, which is almost always plagued by long lines.
Anfield has, however, experienced more legendary moments than any other top-tier English facility. The night versus Barcelona in 2019 will still be remembered in 30 years and beyond. It is a place with memories whose legend is passed down through generations, not simply from a bygone age.
We may be biassed, but Oliver Kay of The Athletic spoke impartially when he said that “when the Anfield atmosphere is at its most raucous, it is unmistakable — perhaps unrivalled.”
Additionally, a certain Pep Guardiola previously said that the slogan “This is Anfield” was not just a marketing gimmick, as James Pearce noted (via The Athletic).
We wouldn’t trade Liverpool’s legendary home for any other venue in England, or perhaps the entire world, despite the fact that other stadiums may be bigger, newer, or simpler to get to.
You’ll understand if you’ve ever been there and raised a scarf while humming along to You’ll Never Walk Alone just before the game starts.