It was a pre-season matchday unlike most. Just over an hour before Liverpool were set to kick off the first of two friendlies against Athletic Club on Monday evening, a fire alarm sounded through the Main Stand at Anfield. Fans in that section were swiftly and calmly evacuated.
The club later confirmed what stewards already suspected on the ground: it was a false alarm.
Shortly before 15:50pm there was a false alarm in the Anfield Main Stand, leading to supporters in that area of the stadium to be temporarily evacuated,” Liverpool said in a statement posted on X. “Fans are now being let back into the Main Stand and there is no expected delay to KO. Thank you for everyone’s co-operation.”
How Anfield handled the false alarm with speed and calm
Those attending described the response as orderly. Stewards directed fans to exit to the concourse or outside the stadium, while internal systems traced the source of the alarm. Within minutes, it was confirmed there was no fire or threat. The turnstiles reopened and fans filtered back to their seats before kickoff.
The entire episode lasted less than 15 minutes, and despite some initial confusion, the match schedule held firm. Liverpool vs Athletic Club began promptly at 5:00pm, with a second match later in the evening also proceeding without incident.
This wasn’t the first time Anfield’s upgraded systems have been tested. During the stadium’s recent expansion, fire alarm drills were part of the safety certification process for the new Anfield Road Stand. On Monday, those protocols proved useful. The alarm system did its job, staff mobilized quickly, and fans were kept informed throughout.
Some supporters took to social media to share real-time updates. The Redmen TV (@TheRedmenTV) posted on X: “Currently stood outside Anfield after a fire alarm evacuated the Main Stand. Believed to be a false alarm and there’s no delay to me getting to watch.
Others thanked the club for clear communication and praised the stewards for remaining calm and professional throughout the brief evacuation.
While the incident barely made a ripple in the wider media narrative of Liverpool’s preseason, it offered a timely reminder of how essential operational readiness is at venues hosting tens of thousands. From a technical malfunction to full re-entry in under 20 minutes, the incident ultimately reinforced trust in Anfield’s matchday procedures.
As the crowd roared at kickoff, the brief disruption already felt distant. The night was about football, after all. But in the background, Anfield’s infrastructure had quietly passed its latest test.
