Footage of water cascading through Everton’s new stadium on Thursday sparked concerns among the club’s supporters, just months before the ground is due to open. However, all was not as it appeared.
The Toffees are constructing a new home on Liverpool’s waterfront, set to depart from Goodison Park in the summer of 2025. With a seating capacity of 52,888, the new stadium will rank as England’s eighth largest and is slated to host matches at Euro 2028.
The project, which has cost Everton an estimated £750million and taken three years to complete, seemed to be facing significant issues when videos circulated on social media showing water pouring down the stairwells inside one of the stands, as well as down the steps where the seats are located.
But the Mirror claim that there is little cause for concern over the footage, and Everton remain calm about the construction process, with the new stadium still on schedule to open for the start of the 2025-26 season.
The club has emphasised that the stadium is still under construction and has not yet been fitted with all of the Siphonic drainage required of a top-level football stadium. Siphonic drainage operates at full capacity and sucks water from the roof down the drain at a high velocity.
Moreover, the stadium had actually experienced a similar issue earlier this year after heavy rainfall and there was no lasting damage caused. The club expect to finish all drainage works in the coming weeks as the construction phase of the stadium completes.
Liverpool, along with the rest of the western United Kingdom, was battered by Storm Darragh over the course of Thursday. The fourth named storm of the season, the Met Office issued amber and yellow severe weather warnings for Northern Ireland, south-west Scotland and western parts of England and Wales.
Those areas are expected to see gusts of up to 80mph (129km/h), with power cuts, building damage and transport disruption likely. Those affected by severe flooding after Storm Bert may be concerned by another storm and heavy rain.
While the rainfall totals associated with Storm Darragh will not be as high, around 2-3in (50-60mm) of rain is expected in parts of Wales and central and southern Scotland by Saturday lunchtime.
Everton have announced a series of upgrades at Goodison Park, including a new SIS hybrid pitch and the introduction of digital ticketing systems, as they continue their fight to remain in the Premier League.
Sean Dyche’s squad, sitting precariously five points above relegation, recently secured a crucial 4-0 victory over Wolves.
A buoyant Dyche praised his team’s response to critics, telling BBC Sport: “[There have been] a lot of question marks about what we are trying to achieve here and we had to answer them – I think the players have done.
“It was a good performance, a committed performance. I said in the week to the group that I couldn’t be any more proud of these players. They have been through all sorts and they have kept going.”
