Getting tickets to see Liverpool play at Anfield is the dream of many football fans around the world. As one of the biggest clubs in Europe with a huge global following, demand for tickets is incredibly high. However, with some preparation and persistence, it is possible for fans to get their hands on the coveted matchday tickets.
Can you just buy tickets?
You cannot just easily buy tickets for a Liverpool game if you are not a member or season ticket holder. The club has several measures in place to ensure tickets go to loyal supporters first. There is a comprehensive ticket buying process that gives priority to fans who have previously attended games or have a purchase history.
About 26,000 season tickets are issued to long-term fans who get tickets to every Premier League and Champions League home game. Once season tickets holders are allocated tickets, the remainder go on sale based on a person’s ticket buying history and membership status.
Liverpool Membership
To have any chance of getting a ticket, you need to be an official Liverpool FC Member. Membership costs £28-£36 per season and gives you access to matchday tickets. There are two tiers of paid membership – Lite and Full. Full Members get priority access to the biggest games, but availability is still limited.
On average, less than 1,000 tickets go on general sale for big Premier League games. With an estimated 500,000 official Members, tickets sell out in minutes. You may be waiting hours online and still miss out.
Ticket buying history
Liverpool also gives priority access to fans with a previous ticket buying history. Those who have attended a number of games per season or bought tickets during the last campaign will get an earlier place in the queue.
This system rewards loyal match-goers but makes it harder for new fans to get tickets. If you haven’t been to Anfield before, you’ll struggle to get tickets for the biggest fixtures.
When do tickets go on sale?
Once season tickets holders are allocated their seats, the remaining tickets go on sale in the below phases:
Ticket Sale Phase | Access |
---|---|
Pre-sale for Hospitality Members | 2 weeks before match |
Pre-sale for Members based on history | 2 weeks before match |
General sale for Members | 2 weeks before match |
Additional sale 1-2 days before match | If available |
As you can see, tickets are extremely limited by the time the general Members sale begins. Your best chance is to try and buy during the member pre-sale the day tickets are released.
When are tickets released?
Matchday tickets are usually released around 2 weeks prior to the game taking place. This means you need to regularly check the website during the build up to games you want to attend.
Tickets for the first month of the season are all released at once in early August. After that, they are issued on a rolling basis as the season progresses. Keep checking online ahead of the release dates for the matches you want.
Where can you buy tickets?
There are two ways to buy official LFC matchday tickets – online and in-person.
Online
The majority of match tickets are sold on Liverpool’s official website. You need an account and your paid Membership to access the ticket store. Tickets cannot be purchased directly from the stadium.
Many fans report waiting hours in online queues and website crashes due to high demand. Make sure you log in ahead of the sale time and be patient once tickets are released.
In-person
A limited number of tickets go on sale in person at the Anfield ticket office in the week leading up to a game. You can line up and hope to get lucky, but there is no guarantee of availability.
The club also has two official ticket partners – Thomas Cook Sport and See Tickets. They receive an allocation to sell in person at their ticket centers in Liverpool and online.
How much do tickets cost?
Ticket prices at Anfield vary greatly depending on where you sit in the stadium and the opponent Liverpool are playing. Premium category games also cost more.
Here are some average ticket prices:
Area | Average Price |
---|---|
The Kop | £59 |
Main Stand | £59 |
Anfield Road | £59 |
Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand | £59 |
You can expect to pay £59-£89 for most Premier League games. Category A games against rivals like Manchester United can cost up to £150 for the best seats.
Hospitality packages
Official hospitality packages are available for most games, providing guaranteed tickets and a pre-match meal. These are the only way to guarantee tickets but cost upwards of £199 per person.
Secondary ticket market
When Liverpool tickets are sold out, fans often turn to secondary resale sites. Prices are hugely inflated, often to several times face value. There is also a risk of buying fake or invalid tickets.
Liverpool FC does not allow or endorse reselling tickets for profit. Purchasing tickets from unofficial sources comes with risks but for many it’s the only way to see the Reds play live.
Authorised ticket resale
Liverpool operates an official ticket resale site in partnership with Stubhub. Season ticket holders can resell unwanted tickets at face value prices. There is availability for some games, but many still sell out fast.
Secondary sites
Popular secondary sites like Viagogo, LiveFootballTickets and Ticketmaster Exchange have Liverpool tickets at inflated prices. Scout these regularly, but beware of fake tickets.
Can you get tickets on matchday?
It is extremely unlikely you will be able to get tickets on a matchday at Anfield unless you pay hugely inflated resale prices. Most games are sold out weeks in advance.
Some corporate ticket holders and tour operators return unsold hospitality packages on matchday. You can enquire about last minute availability but will pay a premium cost starting from £199+. Availability varies from game to game.
Anfield ticket office
A very limited number of tickets may be released at the Anfield Road ticket office on matchday mornings. Fans start queueing overnight which is no guarantee of getting a ticket. Hardcore regulars are often at the front.
Ticket Touts
Tickets are sometimes sold illegally by touts around the stadium on matchday. This comes with big risks – tickets may be fake, invalid or even lead to prosecution. Best avoided.
Following Liverpool on the road
If getting tickets to see Liverpool at Anfield seems too hard, another option is to see them play away. Tickets for away games are sold based on a loyalty system but still give more chance of success.
Getting away tickets
You need to have attended previous away games to qualify for tickets. Fans submit ticket requests and a ballot is used for high demand games. This system favours regular away travellers but some tickets do go on general sale.
Check the Liverpool website leading up to away matches for sale updates. Persistence can pay off eventually if you go through the official process.
Buying on general sale
When Liverpool visit a smaller club, they may put home tickets on general sale. Clubs like Bournemouth, Brentford and Forest sell to the general public as they can’t fill their stadiums.
If Liverpool come to your nearest Premier League club, check their website for ticket details. You can often buy directly without previous loyalty points.
Away ticket resale
Tickets for away games and even travel packages including flights and hotels can sometimes be found on secondary resale sites. Prices are inflated but availability is better than for Anfield tickets.
Conclusion
Getting tickets to see Liverpool play at Anfield is extremely difficult due to huge demand. Don’t expect tickets to be available on public sale for big games.
Your best chances are:
- Becoming an LFC Member and trying to buy during the first day of sale
- Looking for resale tickets on secondary sites
- Buying hospitality packages
- Trying to get away tickets when Liverpool visit smaller clubs
With persistence, you can eventually get to experience the magic of a live match at Anfield or one of Liverpool’s away games. Just be prepared to put in considerable time and effort!