Liverpool playing at home just after Grand National is 'madness', says mayor Joe Anderson

Published on: 27 February 2018

Anfield and Aintree are only around four miles apart

City mayor Joe Anderson has called the decision to stage a Liverpool home match just minutes after the Grand National start at Aintree "madness."

The Premier League match against Bournemouth at Anfield has been chosen for live TV coverage and will kick off at 17:30 BST on 14 April.

That is 15 minutes after the start of the race, four miles away at Aintree.

It is the first time for 24 years the Reds have been at home on the same day as the Grand National.

In April 1994 Liverpool kicked off at 11:30 against Ipswich in front of a crowd of just 30,485 and the race followed at 15:50.

Moving the match to the following day this year was not an option as 15 April is the 29th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster and Liverpool have not played on that date since the tragedy.

Mayor Anderson added: "The costs of the overtime for police will fall on the taxpayer and can the transport network cope? Seems a ridiculous decision to suit TV again."

It is understood that no Premier League match can take place without the agreement of a club's safety advisory group, which includes representatives from local statutory bodies.

Seven races are held at Aintree on Grand National Day, with the first due off at 13:45 and the last at 18:15.

A crowd of around 70,000 is likely at the racecourse with a further 53,000 expected at Anfield.

It was announced on Wednesday the match would move from 15:00 to 17:30 and be live on BT Sport.

An Aintree spokesman said: "As with each year, we're working closely with the police and transport providers but we don't anticipate it affecting racegoers travelling to Aintree for Grand National Day.

"People will be heading to Aintree hours before the football crowd goes to Anfield and leaving Aintree well before the football finishes, but as with every raceday, we will do everything possible to ensure the best customer experience for our racegoers when at Aintree Racecourse.

"Grand National Day is already close to sell-out but of course it's a shame for anyone who wanted to attend both events."

Source: bbc.com

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