Arsenal defender makes claim about Anfield after playing there last season

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Arsenal defender Rob Holding has admitted that the Anfield crowd is the most difficult he’s ever faced.

Holding was asked to name the ‘craziest’ stadium and fan base he’d ever played at during an interview with NMscore on TikTok. With his team’s 2-2 draw against Liverpool in April still fresh in his mind, it didn’t take the 27-year-old long to answer.

“Definitely in the Premier League, Anfield at Liverpool,” Holding admitted. “We were 2-0 up and suddenly there was like an action and their crowd just lifted and got aggressive and you could see it boost their players. Their players then look a bit taller, run a bit faster.

“It is a tough, tough place to go and take all three points, we should have to be fair. Just the Kop sucks the ball into the net. It’s energy, just like pressure, pressure and then it breaks through. So, definitely Liverpool.”

Another one to add to the collection. There isn’t a tougher stadium to win at in the whole of the country.

New stand, same old magic

If Holding – and his manager – thought it was difficult last season, then he better get ready for it to get even tougher. The Reds are putting the finishing touches to their new Anfield Road stand, which will see even more fans in the famous old stadium next season.

Throughout the past two campaigns, Liverpool have lost just once at home in the Premier League. With thousands more Reds cheering them on, they’ll hope to extend that in 2023/24.

Under Jurgen Klopp, the place has become an absolute fortress once again. Prior to losing against Burnley in January 2020, Liverpool had gone almost three years without a league loss at Anfield.

After six-game losing streak put a halt to that in early 2020, they then went another two-and-a-half years unbeaten until October 2022.

That loss against Leeds United was their only one in 2022/23. Although they were dismal at times on the road, home comforts kept Liverpool afloat.

So, despite pokes and jibes from rival fans about the stadium lacking atmosphere these days, it still holds a certain power.

Holding isn’t the first to feel that and he certainly won’t be the last. As the face of Anfield continues to change as the years go by, the magic remains the same.