Liverpool gets a fanzone for World Cup semi-final

Liverpool will have a fanzone for Wednesday's World Cup semi-final against Croatia.

Mayor Joe Anderson's confirmed the Pierhead will have big screens showing the match - and bigger plans could be put in place for the Final on Sunday, should England progress.

"The fanzone will be at the Pierhead - people will not be allowed to bring bottles onto the site. They can bring cans, but there will be beer being sold and we will have big screens on. It's the biggest site we can accommodate large numbers at such short notice.

"If we get through - which hopefully we will - then we will look at Sefton Park (for the Final). Sefton Park has the capacity to deal with that, it'll be families, and we're putting on LIMF the following weekend so the infrastructure will be in place."

The Pier Head fan zone will open from 4pm until the end of the game, access will not be permitted once the site is full and no re-admittance will be allowed.

Following an appeal for sponsors from Mayor Anderson, Everton's sponsors SportPesa, the international sports betting company who have their UK headquarters in the Royal Liver Building, have come forward to help cover the cost of putting on the event such as security and the hire of the big screens.

Shaun Simmond, Marketing Manager at SportPesa, said: "We're really excited to be teaming up with the City of Liverpool to provide a Fan Zone for England's upcoming World Cup semi-final.

“Having been based in Liverpool since October, with one season as Main Partner of Everton Football Club under our belts, we're well aware of this city's love and passion for football.

“We're looking forward to being part of this unforgettable experience and enabling thousands of football fans the chance to enjoy this crucial game."

There'll be a strong police presence at the Fanzone - with images coming in from around the country of cars and even emergency service vehicles being damaged after the win over Sweden on Saturday. Anderson says it's something he's mindful of.

"I am concerned about that - and rightly so. It will be policed - so if anybody behaves like that they will be thrown off the site - make no mistake about that. That's why we aren't allowing bottles or glass to be brought on the site, and I'm appealing to people - please behave sensibly."

But the Mayor himself won't be enjoying the atmosphere...

"I'll be watching it at home with my grandson, cheering on England at home with him. We love watching England together."