Anfield Road Trip · Scott + Dan

The Plan at a Glance

The goal: catch Liverpool at Anfield and a second live game over one long weekend, converging from Raleigh (Scott) and Salt Lake City (Dan).

Base: everything in Liverpool — one hotel, no mid-trip moves. Day-trip to the second game.
Airport: both fly into Manchester (MAN), ~40 min from Liverpool by train. Land within a few hours of each other; no need to book the same flights.
Why January: cheapest month to fly from both cities, and low-season hotels.
The catch: the Anfield ticket is the hard part, not the flights. Lock it first.

Pick Your Weekend

Tap an option — the itinerary, games, and notes below update to match. All fixtures are confirmed; exact kickoff times & Sat-vs-Sun shift with TV picks until ~4–6 weeks out.

Option 1

Cheapest

Mid-January 2027

Liverpool vs Crystal Palace

Best value

Option 2

The Derby

Late January 2027

Liverpool vs Everton

Best atmosphere

Option 3

Easiest Ticket

February 2027

Liverpool vs Hull City

Softest opponent

Game 1 · Anfield

Game 2 · Day trip

Flights

Neither city has a nonstop to Liverpool, so both fly into Manchester (MAN) — 1 stop each, most options, cheapest fares. Round-trip estimates for a January window (book 4–8 weeks out):

✈️ Scott — RDU → MAN

$550–900

~10–11 hrs, 1 stop. Connections via Newark, JFK, Boston, or Dublin (Aer Lingus pre-clears US customs on the way home).

✈️ Dan — SLC → MAN

$700–900

~14–15 hrs, 1 stop. Usually via a Delta/SkyTeam hub (JFK, Atlanta, Amsterdam) or British Airways through London.

⚠️ Heads-up: ignore any "Manchester" fares under ~$200 in search results — that's Manchester, New Hampshire (MHT), a domestic US airport. You want MAN.

Where to Stay — Liverpool

Base near Lime Street — it's the direct train link to Manchester Airport and to the second-game day trips. All walkable to the Beatles/Albert Dock area. Book with free cancellation until dates lock.

Hotel	Why it works	Rating
Holiday Inn City Centre	Directly across from Lime St station; solid mid-range + breakfast	4.4 ★ (1,276)
Premier Inn (Lime Street)	Steps from the station; reliable, great staff reviews	4.5 ★ (442)
easyHotel City Centre	Cheapest; small rooms, great for 1–2 nights, Castle St	4.5 ★ (3,821)
Travelodge (The Strand)	Budget; ~30 min to Hill Dickinson, near Albert Dock	4.1 ★ (1,500)

The 4-Night Itinerary

Everything runs from one Liverpool hotel — no packing up mid-trip. Dates shown update with your selected option.

Tickets — Read This First

Anfield holds ~61,000 and sells out nearly every league game; general sale is members-only and vanishes instantly. For two visitors flying in, the realistic routes:

Official hospitality / matchday package: guaranteed seat, no membership, ~$350–700pp (some include food/drink + stadium tour). Via Liverpool FC Official Hospitality. Safest "we're definitely in" option.
Resale: verified platforms only. Easier & cheaper for a smaller opponent than a marquee game or the derby.
Wrexham (2nd game): $30–50, buyable online days ahead, no membership. Buy direct from the club once the date confirms.

🗓️ Timing rule: Wrexham's exact Jan/Feb home dates + all kickoff times confirm by early–mid November 2026 (EFL locks its schedule; Premier League TV picks land ~4–6 weeks out). Pick an option now, book refundable, finalize exact dates in November.

Rough Budget · per person, 4 nights

Item	Low	High
Flights (RT to MAN)	$550	$900
Hotel (4 nights, mid-range)	$400	$700
Anfield ticket (hospitality/resale)	$350	$700
Wrexham / 2nd game ticket	$30	$100
Food, pubs, trains, activities	$400	$600

TOTAL per person ~$1,730 – $3,000

Lower end = January, smaller opponent (Options 1 or 3), resale over hospitality. Adding the second game only costs ~10–15% more than a one-game trip — flights and hotel are already sunk.

Prices are estimates from recent fare/hotel data and will shift with demand and booking timing. Fixtures confirmed; kickoff times & days subject to TV selection. Not affiliated with Liverpool FC.