Liverpool Confidential: How club will tackle 'farcical' queues ruining Anfield experience, latest on Joe Gomez and Jeremie Frimpong injuries and the £1.3billion boost coming FSG's way ahead of January transfer window

Liverpool have dedicated extra resources and are working with fan groups to alleviate the ‘farce’ of snaking queues at Anfield that have seen thousands miss kick-off in recent games.

Scores of supporters have complained about huge queues caused by thorough security searches upon entry to the stadium, with some saying it is putting them off attending matches.

One Main Stand season-ticket holder sent Confidential several pictures at 3.01pm on Saturday saying: ‘I am fairly sure I have just missed a goal. It’s been like this for weeks now. It’s a p***take.’

Due to added security protocols, fans have been told to get to Anfield ‘10 minutes earlier’ than normal – but supporters have said they would need to arrive way before that to make kick-off.

One fan told us: ‘This is not a gig, there is not a warm-up act.’ They added that the concourse is not a place one wants to be for 30 minutes especially on cold evenings and the delays, coupled with poor form on the pitch, has made the match-going experience unenjoyable.

Liverpool sources insist they are working closely with fan group Spirit of Shankly to make the process more efficient while still keeping fans safe. The Reds have dedicated more resources to improving the situation.

Scores of Liverpool fans have complained about huge queues caused by thorough security searches upon entry to Anfield, with some saying it is putting them off going to the game

A section of Reds supporters missed Hugo Ekitike's early opener during their 2-0 win over Brighton on Saturday

A post on X from Liverpool fan 'LFCBurnsey' highlighting the long queues that dragged on after kick-off in last weekend's win over the Seagulls

It is also worth noting that the delays are caused by Liverpool’s added desire for fan safety. It is believed they have bulked up the security process in line with Martyn’s Law, the 2025 legislation named after Martyn Hett, a victim of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack.

One fan, LFCBurnsey, posted on X: ‘This shows how the 100 per cent checks currently aren't working. People are getting there early but still not fast enough and causing delays.’

Another said: ‘Everyone in the Main Stand Lower is now being searched and scanned on the way in – causing huge queues outside the turnstiles. Stewards said it "came from above" and were not impressed either. Why???’

One fan added: ‘Hundreds of us missed the first Ekitike goal. Queues snaking around here and there. People don't know where to queue.

‘Not enough stewards using the scanners to make it faster. Those with bags etc taking an age to check. Main stand turnstiles today were a mare!’

Confidential has had dialogue with both the club and fans’ group Spirit of Shankly who are set to issue a statement on how there can be a happy medium that will prevent the lengthy queues but also still keep everyone as safe as possible.

…and fans urged not to wear club colours in Marseille

Sticking on the topic of fan safety, Confidential readers will remember how we reported three weeks ago that Liverpool were looking into how to keep their fans safe around next month's away trip to Marseille.

It comes after Newcastle complained to UEFA about what they described as ‘unacceptable treatment of our supporters by police’.

Now Liverpool will write to fans explaining their safety procedures which include not wearing club colours or anything that will identify themselves as Liverpool fans around the city, especially the old port area.

Liverpool fans have been warned ahead of next month's trip to Marseille - the Stade Velodrome, pictured before Marseille's win over Monaco on Sunday, can be a hostile place for away supporters

On the day of the match, supporters must travel together – via a police escort from a designated metro station – to the game. They will be held back at full-time of the match for approximately 40 minutes and are urged to book accommodation in the Place de la Joliette region.

Liverpool are working directly with the local authorities and wheelchair users will be contacted before the game.

According to Newcastle, travelling fans were kept inside the stadium for an hour in a planned move for their safety, with groups of 500 then escorted to the metro to go to the supporters’ meeting point.

However, that is when plans apparently went awry, with the post-match operation witnessed at close quarters by Newcastle’s stewards and senior staff.

Their statement added: ‘Many supporters were visibly distressed, particularly in the upper concourse area of the away sector, where crushing became apparent. Our staff immediately addressed the matter with the police, however this had limited impact on their excessive tactics.’

Injury latest: Gomez likely to miss Spurs trip

Joe Gomez is likely to miss the trip to Tottenham on Saturday with a hamstring injury suffered against Brighton last week.

But Dominik Szoboszlai should be OK after going down with an ankle knock in the 2-0 win. The Hungarian had played every Premier League minute until his 83rd-minute substitution in that game. He is also one yellow card away from a one-match ban.

Jeremie Frimpong is hopeful of joining full training in the coming days after missing nearly two months with a hamstring problem.

Joe Gomez is likely to miss the trip to Tottenham on Saturday after picking up a hamstring injury against Brighton

Jeremie Frimpong is hopeful of joining full training in the coming days after missing nearly two months with a hamstring problem

Rio gets on the pitch in a friendly… but when will he play next?

Rio Ngumoha is in an awkward position. He is needed to fill the first-team bench which is great… but this means he is barely getting any action.

On Wednesday, the 17-year-old played a friendly for Rob Page’s Under 21s against Nice, with this his first action for some time.

His last outing was 12 minutes off the bench on November 22 and one bad thing about Liverpool’s Carabao Cup exit – Arne Slot seems relatively pleased they are out – is that the likes of Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni are not getting any game-time.

It is probably wrong to say they are ‘too good’ to feature for the academy but they are also needed around the first team.

A bit of an awkward situation to be in. Being on the first-team bench is a great experience but how much do they lose by not playing every week? It is something we cannot quantify.

Left back Luke Chambers also returned to action off the bench in the friendly, which ended in defeat. The former Wigan loanee will have clubs looking at his situation ahead of a potential move in January but a lot will depend on his fitness after a lengthy back injury.

Rio Ngumoha, seen here celebrating his late winner against Newcastle in August, is hardly playing any football as he is stuck to the first-team bench

Liverpool's early exit in the Carabao Cup wasn't too disappointing for Arne Slot... but it has meant the likes of Ngumoha have found game time harder to come by

Brilliant week for former Reds

Whenever you speak to anyone in youth football, they say their job is not just about producing top players for their own first team – but making everyone ready for a career in the game wherever it may be.

And it’s been a great week for Reds academy graduates.

The first shout-out has to go to Shamal George, the 27-year-old Birkenhead-born goalkeeper who won the Scottish League Cup with St Mirren.

What a story and achievement that is for the Paisley outfit. He spent 11 years at Liverpool before moving around local clubs like Tranmere and Marine, then up to Scotland with Livingston and now St Mirren.

Fans may remember he rather bizarrely played as a striker in a friendly against Huddersfield.

Another former Liverpool kid, Harry Wilson, is arguably in the form of his life for Fulham. The 28-year-old has three goals and three assists in his last four games. One for your fantasy team perhaps.

James Milner and Jordan Henderson aren’t doing too badly, either!

Ex-Liverpool striker Ranel Young, meanwhile, has agreed a deal to sign for Bristol City after a short-lived five-month spell at Serbian side FK Usce. Reading have signed the Reds academy midfielder Scofield Lonmeni, who played in the UEFA Youth League this year.

FSG's major windfall

Fenway Sports Group have banked a significant financial windfall after agreeing in principle to sell the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League.

The ice hockey franchise, five-time winners of the Stanley Cup, is in the process of being sold to Chicago-based firm Hoffmann Family of Companies in a move that would value them at around £1.35billion.

If the move is sanctioned after four years of FSG ownership, it will be a timely financial boost for the Reds owners following their £450million summer outlay and perhaps some January activity too!

FSG still own the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball, NASCAR's RFK Racing and Boston Common Golf in Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TGL golf league.

Liverpool's owners FSG are set for a significant financial windfall thanks to their ice hockey side Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins are five-time Stanley Cup winners, but have not won a play-off series since FSG bought them in 2021

And for something extra...

I had a great time on Wednesday night answering DailyMail+ subscribers' questions in an hour-long Q&A alongside my Daily Mail Sport colleague Ian Ladyman.

No stone was left unturned as we tackled everything from Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi to Harvey Elliott, Ngumoha and when Federico Chiesa will finally get a start for Liverpool.

It was a packed hour, full of news and exclusives, and thank you to everyone who sent in questions.

If you missed it, don't worry - DailyMail+ members can now watch back the whole Q&A at this link .