Work has begun on the long talked about expansion of the grounds for Liverpool FC.

The contractor, Carillion, is working on expansion of the ground’s main stand, with construction work to continue throughout 2015 and due for completion before the 2016/17 season.

The expansion will add a further 8,000 seats to the main stand, bringing the total capacity to 20,000 and the total number of seats in the ground to more than 54,000.

Liverpool FC will continue to play matches at Anfield during the expansion work.

Chairman of Liverpool FC, Tom Werner, said:

“It was just over two years ago that we said our preference was to stay at Anfield and here we are today announcing that the expansion is going ahead. We have made more progress in the past two years than in the last decade.

“Having experience of expanding Fenway Park and being through a similar and very successful project for the Red Sox, everyone at FSG is extremely proud and excited to be part of expanding Anfield Stadium.”

Ian Ayre, chief executive said:

“Today is an important milestone in the history of Liverpool FC. Since we embarked upon this journey we have always said that we need certainty; we now have that certainty and will progress with the expansion of the Main Stand.

“There has been a tremendous amount of work done to get us where we are today but this is just the beginning.”

Mayor Joe Anderson added:

“The start of work on the Main Stand will mark the beginning of a project which will deliver huge benefit to the city of Liverpool and to the communities in and around Anfield.

“It is the culmination of a great deal of hard work from many parties, including our colleagues at Your Housing Group, and is evidence of the commitment of Fenway Sports Group to the strategic vision which we jointly unveiled just over two years ago. I’m delighted that we have reached this decisive turning point in the history of Anfield.”

Liverpool have also received the go-ahead to expand the Anfield Road Stand, though there is no set timescale.

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Words: Peter Cribley