As a travelling fan, you may already have an idea of what to expect at Liverpool's Anfield stadium, with the famous “You'll Never Walk Alone” anthem renowned throughout the footballing world.
However, fans in the stadium – and television viewers – will have at some point heard the tannoy system announcing the commencement of Operation Anfield Exercise.
Sometimes the announcement is made multiple times during a match, with the phrase heard reguarly by both sets of fans, but what exactly does this announcement mean?
Operation Anfield Exercise: Preparation for the worst
Operation Anfield exercise is done in cooperation with the police, but it is run by the ground's stewards, and it is intended to ensure the safety of all those within the stadium.
Though the announcement can sound intimidating, it is simply an exercise drill for Anfield's stewards, preparing them to respond to an emergency as quickly as possible.
Once the tannoy system makes the announcement, stewards responsible for opening gates move into position, as do those needed to usher supporters out of the stadium. Turnstiles are checked, and the staff prepare for the possible need to usher fans out.
With everyone in place, should an emergency situation occur – a major fire, disaster or threat against the stadium – then the evacuation of everyone at Anfield would commence, though only if there was a genuine emergency.
Has there been a stadium evacuation?
Anfield was evacuated during pre-season ahead of the 2025-26 season, when fans in the Main Stand were asked to leave in August before Liverpool played Athletic Bilbao.
An alarm went off just supporters were settling into their seats, and they were subsequently ushered out of their seats they were settling into their seats.
As it turned out, the panic was short lived as it was a false alarm, and fans were allowed back inside the ground.