By Phil McNulty BBC Sport Online chief football writer

Liverpool's willingness to ignore the romantic option of renovating Anfield in favour of the reality of a new ground is based on hard economics.

No business - whether it is football or any other industry - can afford to turn away 20,000 committed and willing customers on a fortnightly basis forever.

 Liverpool's stadium decision

And while the sentimentalists will mourn the loss of the Kop and leaving great memories of unparallelled successes at home and in Europe, Liverpool have no option.

Liverpool still have some hard talking ahead, and much persuasion of locals, but it is clear their preference is now to leave Anfield behind.

It will break the heart of chairman and former Kopite David Moores to leave his beloved Anfield, but time and tide wait for no modernising football club.

And Liverpool simply cannot sustain the economic disadvantages in ignoring the commonly held view within the club that they could attract 55,000 fans regularly.

In fact, the major surprise is that Liverpool have decided to opt for a capacity that is only 10,000 above the current level at Anfield.

Could this be Liverpool's new home?

Liverpool's former chief executive vice-chairman Peter Robinson was a long-time advocate for ground-sharing with neighbours Everton, but this eminently sensible idea never got off the ground.

The ideal scenario for Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry and his board would be to stay at historic Anfield and build on its rich traditions by increasing its 44,000-plus capacity up towards the 55,000 mark.

But Anfield has been renovated on three sides in recent times and it is difficult to see where Liverpool can go within the confines of the old stadium without undertaking a total rebuilding programme.

Liverpool, like Double winners Arsenal, must move to cash in on the revenues they are currently unable to bank.

Manchester United's ability to build a 67,000-seat Old Trafford - and possibly increase the capacity further - has only brought the dilemma facing Liverpool and Arsenal into sharper focus.

And so it is that Arsenal are leaving behind the cripplingly low capacity of 38,000 Highbury, and Liverpool look ready to leave their spiritual home and move the few hundred yards to Stanley Park.

Stanley Park is the picturesque area of parkland that has provided a natural barrier between Everton and Liverpool.

Houllier's success has rejuvenated Liverpool

But Everton themselves are also planning to quit Goodison Park and move to a new 55,000-seater stadium on the banks of the River Mersey at King's Dock.

Liverpool have believed for years that, certainly for weekend matches at Anfield, they could attract well in excess of 60,000.

This makes it a conservative decision to settle on 55,000 for the new stadium.

They will be well aware of the revenue they have been rejecting at a club with a renewed worldwide profile, thanks to the success of Gerard Houllier's rebuilding programme and the winning of silverware at home and abroad.

The romantics will understandably leave Anfield with reluctance, but the realists will embrace the need to move Liverpool on the next level and put themselves even closer to the commercial successes of Manchester United.

Arsenal recognised the problem swiftly - Liverpool are right to follow suit.