Everton FC moved here from the Priory Road ground and played their first match, a 5-0 victory, against Earlestown FC on September 28th, 1884. Changing facilities were provided at the nearby Sandon Hotel, hoardings surrounded the field with the pitch enclosed by railings and an open seated stand sited on the Anfield Road side. Although within a few years considerable improvements had been made, with open stands at each end of the pitch and covered stands on each side, substantial regular rent increases led to Everton FC looking at alternative sites within the area. At the end of the 1891/92 season a move was made to Goodison Park on the other side of Stanley Park.

The landlord, John Houlding, quickly established a new football club to utilize his ground and within one year Liverpool FC was elected to the Football League. The ground then saw major developments; in 1895 a 3,000 seater stand was built on south east side, in 1903 a new stand was constructed on Anfield Road and in 1906 the first “Kop” was built. In 1928 the accommodation of the “Kop” was increased to 30,000 when it was extended and covered and the all time ground record of 61,905 was established after WWII at a 4th Round FA Cup tie against Wolverhampton Wanderers (2-1) on February 2nd, 1952.

In the 1990s the ground was totally rebuilt, the “Kop” end was demolished and replaced with a 12,000 seat stand whilst the construction of further new stands and refurbishments completed an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 45,362 for the 2007/8 season. The pitch size was 110 x 75 yards and in 2005 plans were in hand to move across the road into a new stadium, New Anfield, in Stanley Park.