Liverpool get approval to overtake Arsenal and still lead Man City as key Anfield plan is given the green light

Liverpool City Council have confirmed that Liverpool are allowed an extra 2,421 fans in the upper tier of their new Anfield Road Stand.

The Reds commenced work on the stand that sits at the north-east of their iconic Anfield home in 2021 in order to increase the capacity.

Redevelopment was set to be completed for the start of the season but this was delayed, with the upper tier only being partially opened to fans in December in their 0-0 draw against Manchester United.

Empty seats towards the bottom of the upper tier have still been seen since then, but this looks set to change.

On Friday, Liverpool City Council announced on X that the club have been granted a fourth interim safety certificate to welcome 2,421 extra fans into the Anfield Road Stand.

This means that Anfield's capacity now stands at 60,725, just shy of their target of 61,000.

And this could see a league record Anfield attendance for Saturday's clash against Burnley to eclipse the 58,757 spectators set in 1949 from the 2-2 draw with Chelsea.

Liverpool welcomed 57,524 fans to their last home match when they beat the Bues 4-1, and their new increased tally will take them to fourth in the Premier League's capacity list.

They will overtake rivals Arsenal and their Emirates Stadium that holds 60,704, and will stay above Manchester City's Etihad Stadium that sits at 53,400.

Remaining at the top of the rankings is Manchester United who boast 74,310 at Old Trafford.

Although this could potentially rise to 90,000 in plans proposed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium sits second with 62,850 fans, with their rivals West Ham close behind on 62,500 at the London Stadium.

Buckingham Group Contracting were initially tasked with the Anfield project, but they went into administration in September.

Rayner Rowen Construction took over and a phased reopening of the stand came into force, with fans slowly filtering back in throughout the course of the season.