Liverpool owner John W. Henry convinced to redevelop Anfield after Arsenal visit

Former Liverpool chairman Sir Martin Broughton said he took the club's current principal owner John W. Henry to an Arsenal match at the Emirates Stadium to demonstrate that the Reds should not relocate to a different stadium.

Under the previous ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett there were plans to move Liverpool to a new 60,000 capacity ground in Stanley Park, a proposal which did not go down well with supporters.

The future appeared uncertain when the club was sold to Henry's Fenway Sports Group, but they immediately committed to staying at Anfield, and after the Main Stand was extended there are now plans to increase the capacity of the Anfield Road Stand.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Broughton revealed seeing the effect on the atmosphere that Arsenal's move from Highbury across north London to Holloway caused convinced Henry to stay at Anfield.

"That was the most important decision- to do that rather than go for an Emirates style stadium in Stanley Park," Broughton said.

"We organised a trip for John (Henry) to the Emirates for a game and the feedback was always how everyone loved the stadium except the Arsenal fans. They could instantly see why would you throw away 'This is Anfield'? The Emirates in Stanley Park just did not feel right.

"If we had had to build another stadium he would have, but his determination was to do everything to stay at Anfield which was important.

"Fenway had proven they could do it with the Red Sox as previous owners had bought land next door to build a new arena. Fenway said: ‘Why would you throw away all the tradition of the Green Monster?’ The similarities were clear. They got it through and returned it to former glories. Now they have done the same at Anfield."

Liverpool first moved into their Anfield stadium in 1892, and it is widely regarded as one of the most historic and atmospheric grounds in the world.