By Paul Nicholson
July 14 – While Liverpool’s players visited Bangkok’s Grand Palace on the first leg of their pre-season tour, bonded with their new teammates and doubtless pondered the departure of £49 million Raheem Sterling, back home the Anfield Stadium was taking delivery of two of the UK’s largest cranes and a 650 tonne roof truss.
The weight of expectation at Anfield grows every year they are without a trophy. And with the club expanding its stadium to a capacity of about 54,000 there is an increased load to bear.
The delivery of the cranes – each capable of lifting a massive 1200 tonnes – will enable the roof truss to be manouevred into position over the Main Stand and on to two already constructed towers.
This is a key phase of the build which will add 8,400 seats to the Main Stand taking its capacity to 20,000.
Liverpool has been pre-selling hospitality and executive seating which the club says is close to being sold out. They will then open up premium seating sales.
The stand is on course for completion during the 2016/17 season and will have three tiers with the existing lower tier re-profiled to accommodate a widened player tunnel, new team benches, media platform and wheelchair viewing positions.
Meanwhile, as the roof truss beds in, fans will have the opportunity to see how the new team is coming together with its friendly matches against theThai All Stars tonight, Australia’s Brisbane Roar on July 17 and Adelaide United FC on July 20, and a Malaysia XI on July 24.
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