New owners New England Sports Ventures have yet to decide whether to build the proposed new stadium in Stanley Park or redevelop Anfield.
When NESV took over the Boston Red Sox, it invested in the baseball club’s existing Fenway Park home instead of building a new stadium.
Last night Liverpool council leader Joe Anderson said his preferred option was for the club to build a new stadium, as it would act as a catalyst for further regeneration of the area.
A new stadium was also part of the city’s bid to be a World Cup venue in the event England’s 2018 bid is successful.
Anfield was included in the bid, but it was made clear at the time that this was seen very much as a back-up plan.
Council bosses had been due to meet the club in the past couple of weeks, but the meeting was cancelled while the future of the club was thrashed out. Planning permission for the new stadium runs out next year, although it could be extended fairly easily.
Cllr Anderson said: “We are committed to work with LFC on the future way forward.
“Our preference is for the club to build a new stadium as this would not only lead to a fantastic new venue, but would assist in regenerating the wider Anfield area.
“I hope to meet with the club within the next two weeks to explore all the options moving forward.”
Merseyside MPs gave a cautious welcome to the new owners after meeting with NESV principal investors John W Henry and Tom Werner on Monday.
Liverpool fan and Walton MP Steve Rotheram said: “They listened a lot more intently than the last two characters and were far more open to suggestions that they should look at the full regeneration of Anfield, not just the ground itself.
“He said the new owners were clearly looking at ways of using the stadium outside matchdays to create new income streams.
“My first impression was very positive. Although they are the same nationality as the last two owners, they are very different people.
“Their plans are to take the club forward in a positive manner.”
Wirral South MP Alison McGovern, also an LFC fan, said it was clear Henry wanted to listen and learn.
“We shared our concerns. The relationship with the fans has been really damaged and we need to take steps to put it back together. Although they were not going to commit to anything, they seemed genuinely keen to listen.
“We will all be obviously cautious, you can only take people by what they do and what they say.
“Ultimately it is going to be actions not words that we judge them on.”
She added: “The priority is putting the club on a solid financial footing so the same thing never happens again.”
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