ANFIELD had to be evacuated just minutes before Liverpool’s pre-season friendlies with Athletic Bilbao.
The Reds welcomed the Spanish big boys to their famous home on Monday for a rare same-day doubleheader.
But stadium staff were forced to perform an emergency evacuation just minutes before the first kick-off, which was scheduled for 5pm, due to a false alarm.
Several supporters had already taken to their seats when the alarm sounded and staff ordered them to leave the ground.
The Kop club, thankfully, soon revealed that the evacuation was sparked by a false alarm.
A statement read: “Shortly before 15:50pm there was a false alarm in the Anfield Main Stand, leading to supporters in that area of the stadium to be temporarily evacuated.
“Fans are now being let back into the Main Stand and there is no expected delay to KO.
“Thank you for everyone’s co-operation.”
Liverpool’s second straight showdown with Bilbao will commence at 8pm.
The Merseysiders revealed the starting XI for the first match just minutes before the alarm sounded.
Liverpool starting XI to face Athletic Bilbao: Woodman, Nunez, Mac Allister, Jones, Elliott, Tsimikas, Robertson, Nyoni, Doak, Ngumoha, Stephenson
Kop fan favourites Virgil van Dijk, Conor Bradley, Alisson Becker and Joe Gomez won’t feature in either match.
Manager Arne Slot told the club’s official website: “Almost all of them are fit or stayed fit.
“Unfortunately, Virgil is sick today. We miss out on Alisson. Joe Gomez is not there, Conor Bradley is not there.
“But until now we have stayed fit as we wanted to be and new signings came in so they got adjusted to what we want.
“Looking forward first of all to today and then to the next weeks.”
Moments before kick-off, the Kop club paid tribute to their late winger Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away in a car accident in Spain last month.
Anfield legend Phil Thompson laid a wreath in honour of the beloved Jota, as did Bilbao president, Jon Uriarte.
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