Overview

• Merseyrail cleared tens of thousands from Sandhills with an average wait of about 15 minutes, and most supporters left within an hour, according to Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram.
• Additional services were laid on before and after the fixtures, following three test events and upgrades at Sandhills that included a new pedestrian footbridge and a fan-management zone.
• The opening weekend’s operations were described as “remarkable” by the mayor, who said public transport coped despite concurrent events at Creamfields and the Pier Head.
• Everton’s first night match at Hill Dickinson brought complaints from nearby businesses over unannounced road closures, traffic congestion, and lost custom.
• Liverpool City Council said closures of Sandhills Lane and Bank Hall Lane are part of the event plan and will continue, as authorities seek predictable fan travel patterns to reduce extraordinary resource demands.