Joey Barton lights the fuse: Anfield among four Premier League grounds he slates for flat atmospheres
Trust Joey Barton to chuck a lit match into the tinderbox. Asked on live radio back in 2018 to weigh up the Premier League’s best and worst atmospheres, the former Manchester City and Everton midfielder didn’t tiptoe around it — he bulldozed straight through the front door of the ‘big six’.
Barton’s hit list: big clubs, big reputations… small noise?
Barton singled out four heavyweights — Liverpool’s Anfield, Manchester United’s Old Trafford, Manchester City’s Etihad and Arsenal’s Emirates — as the league’s flattest atmospheres. His take on Liverpool was especially spiky: spine-tingling before kick-off, yes, but he reckons the volume dips unless the Reds score or it’s one of those thunderous European nights. Old Trafford, in his eyes, is weighed down by sightseers; the Etihad, he says, can feel subdued; and the Emirates, well, he likened it to a library on slow afternoons.
Credit where it’s due: United’s travellers and Palace’s ultras
To be fair, Barton did tip his cap in two directions. He argued Manchester United’s away following is about as good as it gets in the country — relentless, loud, and loyal. And in the top-flight shoutout stakes, he surprised a few by praising Crystal Palace, echoing others who’ve highlighted the Selhurst Park din as one of the division’s best.
West Ham’s move and the noise debate
He also doubled down on a widely held gripe that West Ham supporters have struggled to bottle the old Upton Park bite since shifting to the London Stadium — the football’s moved on, the acoustics haven’t quite kept pace.
Is Anfield’s aura a myth? Football royalty say otherwise
Rivals love to scoff at the Anfield mystique, but a roll call of greats beg to differ. Jose Mourinho has waxed lyrical about the emotional surge Liverpool’s fans generate — even contrasting it with what he wanted to feel at Stamford Bridge. Cristiano Ronaldo has described Anfield as the most intimidating Premier League venue he visited, while Pep Guardiola has suggested the atmosphere there is unlike anything else in world football. Add the nods from Sir Alex Ferguson, Diego Maradona and Xavi, and it’s clear that ‘This Is Anfield’ isn’t just a sign on a wall; it’s a living, breathing force when the place catches fire.
My take: both things can be true
Look, Barton’s never shied away from an incendiary soundbite, and on a drab league fixture in the rain, even the grandest grounds can go a bit flat. But paint-by-numbers atmospheres don’t survive on Merseyside or Manchester for long. The truth? The best noise is earned: tempo on the pitch, jeopardy in the air, and a crowd that smells blood. On those nights, these cathedrals of football still rattle your ribcage.
If you’re plotting your next away day — or weighing up the weekend’s wagers — the pulse of a ground matters as much as form and fitness. For a broader view on where to place your money, have a look at our best betting sites and shop the odds with a cooler head than Barton’s hot take.
Until then, consider the gauntlet thrown. The big clubs have the stage, the players have the spotlight — now it’s over to the stands to bring the thunder.
