9 Jun 2009Liverpool and Everton ground-share needed if World Cup bid is successful

Football Clubs News | Football Technology and Stadia

Liverpool and Everton may need to share a home football stadium if the city is to be used as a location for the World Cup in 2018 should England's bid be successful, it has been stated.

Speaking to the Observer, Warren Bradley, the leader of Liverpool City Council and the city's 2018 bid committee, revealed that the current stadiums in the area do not fit FIFA's criteria for hosting venues.

He argued that one of the issues is that both Anfield and Goodison Park do not offer enough seats, while there is an added fear that nearby Manchester may gain all the benefits of the tournament if it is held in England.

Mr Bradley told the publication: "There is a need for a 60,000 fit-for-purpose, 21st-century stadium in Liverpool. It would cost around £300 million.

"I don't see any reason why it can't work – it does so across the southern hemisphere, and in Germany, Italy and America."

It is believed that a new stadium could be built between the current grounds of the two rivals on Stanley Park, where there have been previous suggestions that Liverpool may consider building their own stadium.

Liverpool's current home at Anfield has a capacity of just over 45,000, with the location being made an all-seater stadium in 1994 to improve safety, which had a knock-on effect on maximum attendance.

Written by Mark Thompson

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