Options are now being considered which could see the new Stanley Park stadium rival Old Trafford, which can accommodate 76,500 fans.

It is understood that George Gillett and Tom Hicks have not settled on a new figure for the capacity but have told club officials to start talks with the city council about boosting the Stanley Park stadium capacity.

The American tycoons announced after taking over Liverpool that they intend the club to become the biggest and best in the world, and they are convinced an even larger new stadium could be filled for every game.

A lot of work on expanding the capacity has already been done and the task now remains for Liverpool to persuade city council planners that the facilities and infrastructure of the stadium could easily handle the extra number of fans on a regular basis.

The changes could slightly delay the club's schedule for building work to start by the end of April. The target is to have the £215million stadium completed by 2009.

A Liverpool spokesman said: "There is a total commitment to a new stadium but the new owners are conducting a thorough review of the current proposals, to see if there is any way they can be improved."

Hicks said last month: "We are going to build the finest team for the finest stadium in the Premier League and that is Liverpool."

"The shovel needs to be in the ground in the next 60 days.

"We are fully supportive of the Stanley Park development and of building a facility that we hope will be the greatest facility in this sport.

"We do work hard on design and development and making sure the quality of the fan experience is unparalleled."