I'm not sure it's mainly to do with season ticket holders, although it may play a small part. You could argue that season ticket holders are hardcore fans who know the songs and that anyone else turning up could be a quiet daytripper, so I'm not sure it's the full story.
I just think the crowd gets up for a big game, and goes to lesser games expecting the team to lift them. It's a different mindset. My first game was against Derby on a Saturday in October 1990. I think we'd won the first 7 games of the season, and I remember the atmosphere was pretty unimpressive for the most part - although there were little bursts of noise that blew me away. Alan Hansen said that by that stage the Kop had grown blase.
I've been to group stage Champions League matches that have been pretty dead in atmosphere, while I don't recall it being buzzing for knockout games like Benfica and PSV, unless the game got the fans going. If it's Chelsea or Barcelona, there's the knowledge that the fans must turn up and make some noise to help the team, which would be the case at home to any of the big teams if we were in with a chance of the league in April. I do think big European games encourage a different atmosphere, because of the club's famous nights, but evening kick-offs are always more special if it's good opposition.
What I have noticed since 1990 is that in the lesser games the crowd after half-time is usually totally silent. I swear there used to be more of a buzz once the second half restarted, but it falls quiet within seconds.
Wimbledon in March 1996 always sticks in my mind. It was the day of the Dunblaine massacre, and the atmosphere was pretty grim, with the away fans numbering about 5. By the time the Reds, who were in the title hunt, had had THREE goals chalked off by the officials, the place was going mental. But it needed the anger about decisions to wake everybody up.
If Anfield could make a big noise for every game, it'd certainly help. But I think all big teams could say the same.
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