THE hallowed turf of Anfield will be preserved as a public park if plans for a new stadium go ahead.
The Liverpool Football Club pitch would be the centrepiece for the Anfield Plaza development, which would include a hotel, restaurants and offices.
It is hoped the turf would become a memorial to epic Anfield matches. It would stand opposite the Hillsborough Memorial.
The proposals for the restored pitch were announced as new images of LFC's 60,000-seat stadium in Stanley Park were released.
The new pictures provide stunning close-up and overhead views of the #80mdevelopment.
The blueprint has been drawn together by Peter Swift from Planit EDC landscape architects.
He said: "The stadium is a beautiful piece of work but if it doesn't fit into the wider area it will not work.
"Anfield Plaza is a key element in the whole application. The best way to make it successful is to have developments - if you have it all as open space it will be a disaster."
A Liverpool spokesman stressed all plans for the Anfield Plaza were still subject to consultation with the local community.
He said: "There will definitely be a significant amount of open space and keeping the pitch is an idea that will be debated as part of the much wider consultation exercise."
The possible restoration of the pitch today won fans' support.
Les Lawson, secretary of the official LFC supporters club, said: "It is symbolic for many supporters - hallowed turf really.
"There will be a tear in the eye to when the old stadium is pulled down but it will be good to know that the old pitch will still be there."
Development of the Anfield Plaza would start once the proposed Stanley Park stadium was completed in 2006.
By the end of this month the club hopes to have put together a funding application for #40m for Anfield Plaza and the refurbishing of Stanley Park and Anfield Cemetery.
The club will be applying for European Objective 1 money and cash from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
