My name's Chris McLoughlin and I've been coming here to Anfield to watch Liverpool since 1987.
If you're an Anfield regular, you know where to go, but we've got fans from all over the
place now and maybe you've never been here before.
If that's the case, then I'll be your tour guide today.
I'm going to show you the best place to have a pint, where to get a pie, programme or even
a match day scarf, so you can make the most out of your Anfield match day experience.
There are lots of different ways to get up to Anfield.
If you're in the city centre you might want to get the 917 bus which leaves on match days
outside Liverpool Lime Street station on St John's Lane.
If you fancy getting the train up here, then you need to get to Liverpool Central Station,
get on the Northern Line and get off at Sandhills.
If you're after a pre-match pie, then Homebaked on the corner of Oakfield Road is the place to go.
This community bakery is the only place in the world that sells the Shankly pie.
Filled with steak, bacon, mushrooms, onions, leak, celery and a touch of gravy.
The Shankly family gave Homebaked permission to use this recipe and it's spot on.
Fancy a pre-match pint before kick-off?
Loosen the old vocal chords before 'You'll Never Walk Alone'?
Thought so.
You're in luck – there are loads of pubs around Anfield.
I normally go in a place called The Twelfth Man on Walton Breck Road, it's pretty easy
to get served in there on a matchday even though it gets busy.
There's loads of other options: The Park opposite Anfield is great for atmosphere; and the famous
Albert right on the Kop's doorstep is full of memorabilia but it does get rammed.
There's also this place: The Sandon – one of the most historic pubs in the whole of
Liverpool.
Formerly owned by John Houlding the man who formed Liverpool Football Club in 1892.
Everton's players used to get changed in here when they played at Anfield.
And Mr Houlding who owned Anfield had a fall out with the Everton directors.
They were Methodists, teetotallers, and they didn't want him to sell his alcohol at the
ground and weren't happy when he put the rent up.
So, off they went to Goodison Park and King John, as he's known in these parts, formed Liverpool FC.
If that Scouse squabble had never happened, I'd now be an Evertonian...
Nooooooooooooo!
Now, this isn't a place you'd normally find me in, but The Arkles on the corner of Arkles
Lane and Anfield Road is the away fans pub.
So, if you're visiting Anfield for the day and you want a bevvy before the match,
this is the place to go.
Singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" you're going to need one of these.
The good news is that there are loads of merchandise stalls around Anfield.
There's also the official club shop down at the Kop end.
One little word of advice though: don't get a half-and-half scarf – the only colours
to wear here are Liverpool's.
You can get a match day programme from loads of booths around Anfield and also inside the ground.
I'd also encourage you to take a look at the Red All Over The Land fanzine.
In production since 1995 and written by John Pearman, it's the only surviving fanzine and
these things won't survive if the fans don't keep supporting them.
John, you okay, how's it going?
Nice to meet you, mate.
Can I get one?
Of course you can.
Two quid still?
Two quid still... cheaper than the pies, far more tasty.
There you go, mate.
Cheers, John – take care.
There are a load of landmarks to see at Anfield when you're visiting including the famous
Shankly Gates.
They've been on Anfield Road since 1982 although they used to be further up the road before
the main stand was redeveloped.
It was put up in tribute to the great Bill Shankly and opened by his late wife, Nessie
in 1982.
The key to the Shankly Gates can now be found in the Shankly Hotel in Liverpool city centre.
There are loads of other landmarks here too including the Paisley Gates which are outside the Kop.
They were put up in tribute to Bob Paisley, the only manager to have won three European Cups
with the one club.
There's also the famous Bill Shankly statue outside the Kop stand.
One place you must visit when you come to Anfield is the Hillsborough Memorial here
at the new main stand, a lasting tribute to the 96 who we lost in Sheffield on the
15th April 1989.
The families of those who lost loved ones come and pay their respects here all the time
and if you wish to bring flowers and scarves, you're more than welcome to.
Now this is the famous Kop stand.
First built in 1906, at one point it held up to 28,000 people when Kopites were stood on there.
It created the best atmosphere in the business.
Many famous nights including Inter Milan and St Etienne.
In 1994 it was redeveloped to become an all-seater stand and now, when "You'll Never Walk Alone"
is ringing out it's still one of the most iconic sites in world football.
Now, there are loads of different ways in and out of Anfield and all of them are busy.
This is Walton Breck Road and as you can see it's absolutely rammed shortly before kick-off.
If you find yourself on Anfield Road then there's a fanzone, so if you've got the kids
with you it might be the place to go.
But you will also find the away fans there as the visitors enclosure is on Anfield Road.
At full-time, if you're heading back into town, you want to go in this direction.
Taxis are down there.
If you head down to Scotland Road you can normally flag one down and others are parked
on Sleepers Hill.
So, Liverpool have just beaten Sunderland 2-0 – a great victory.
Anyway, I hope you have enjoyed this guide to Anfield and this tour that I've given you today.
Feel free to leave any comments in the section below and if you can get a ticket for this place,
fingers crossed that the Red men win next time as well.
Up the Reds!