Safe standing will inevitably return to the Premier League at some point.
It is the beginning of the end for the all-seater stadium, with Manchester United applying for permission to install rail seating for up to 1,500 fans at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
Of course, safe standing will always be a topic for debate on Merseyside, so is it too soon to be considering its reintroduction?
We headed out onto the streets of Liverpool to find out what locals think about that possibility, and whether rail seating could be the way forward.
“A couple of grounds have already got it haven’t they?” said 53-year-old Phil from Leeds.
“It seems to be working alright as long as you don’t go mad with it. It’s whether they let the idiots in.
“It should be for families I think.”
Birkenhead resident, John, agreed that rail seating could be a good idea.
The 60-year-old said: “If it’s just a minimal amount of spectators, and it’s well controlled and well stewarded, then I’ve got no objection to it.”
68-year-old John, on the other hand, was completely against the prospect of bringing safe standing back to the Premier League.
“Ridiculous!” he said, “Absolutely ridiculous! It’s proved that it’s been a danger in the past.”
Patrick and Emma, from Dublin, agreed.
“If you have a child with you and someone is standing in front of it, they can’t see,” 53-year-old Emma said.
56-year-old Patrick added: “Look what happened at Hillsborough. That says it all.”
Conversely, friends Rick and Paul shared fond memories of standing at Anfield.
“You could be there together and then, at half-time, he’s down there and I’m up here,” 61-year-old Rick, from the Wirral, said.
Paul added: “I loved safe standing put that in yeah.”
However, Caroline, 48, said: “I think it’s a bit out dated isn’t it?
“I think it should be back seats only. It should always be seats only.”
The Aigburth resident added: “My husband was at Hillsborough and Heysel, so I’m for a seated stadium.”
Finally, 76-year-old Ken, from Litherland, acknowledged that there are problems with seated stadia but said he would prefer to keep them over safe standing.
He said: “It’s got its good points I suppose but the trouble is with all the seated areas, most people stand up anyways.”
You can listen to the audio script here.
(Photos credited to Jon Darch and elisfkc under CC License)
