Liverpool have confirmed their plans to stay at Anfield, and as a result reject the option of building a new stadium at nearby Stanley Park.
The announcement comes as little surprise for those who have followed the movements of the club in recent months. Liverpool owner John Henry has openly doubted the financial viability of a new stadium, and earlier reports indicated the existence of plans to expand Anfield.
Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre stated that the preference of Henry had always been to redevelop Anfield, and that the decision had now been made because of the support they had received from the Liverpool city council and wider community.
The plans form part of a wider regeneration project for the derelict Anfield area, which include a grant of £25 million the city has received, and further investments by a housing association.
Few concrete details were provided with regards to the expansion plans, but it is thought that they involve raising capacity to 60,000 by expanding the Main Stand and Anfield Road Stand, though Ayre added that further research into demand and costs will finally determine the exact set-up.
He also indicated that works could get performed without closing down the existing stands, and therefore would not lead to a loss of revenue during the construction period.
The redevelopment, however, does require the demolition of various rows of housing at the back of the Main Stand, and the next step in the process will be finding an arrangement with local residents that have to move out. This process will be led by the city of Liverpool, but is likely to raise tensions and may involve compulsory purchase orders.
Due to these uncertainties, Ayre refused to commit on a time schedule, but works are not expected to start before 2014.