Taylor Swift hailed the commitment of thousands of fans who braved the rain to watch her perform the first of three gigs at Anfield Stadium last night for the 100th show of her Eras Tour.

The American superstar performed in front of a 53,000-strong crowd at the Liverpool FC stadium – breaking the all-time attendance record for the arena.

Taylor sported 13 different sparkly outfits throughout the three-hour show, bringing out a few new looks as well as some Eras Tour classics.

Last night’s surprise songs – which Taylor switches up for every show – were Mine and I Can See You from her album Speak Now, Cornelia Street from her Lover album and Maroon from Midnights.

The star appeared emotional as she belted out her popular heartbreak hit All Too Well, written for her 2012 album Red, and performed a passionate version of The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived from her most recent album, The Tortured Poets Department.

Fans who attended the first of three Liverpool shows described the night as ‘amazing’ and ‘so fun’.

Taylor Swift performs on stage during the Eras Tour at Anfield Stadium on Thursday night+

Taylor Swift performed to around 53,000 people at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool tonight

Taylor Swift celebrates her 100th tour concert in Liverpool

Taylor described the Liverpool crowd as ‘loveable’ as she took in their excited screams, dance moves and sparkly themed outfits.

The stadium was packed with Swifties wearing cowboy boots, friendship bracelets and sparkly dresses as they celebrated the different ‘eras’ of Taylor’s music over the years.

The singer performed through a few technical malfunctions towards the end of the show, which saw the main stadium screen switch off.

Despite some speculation building throughout the week, there were no surprise guests at tonight’s performance, but the band Paramore – who Taylor is a huge fan of – opened up for the superstar.

While on stage, Taylor described the Eras Tour as ‘exhausting’ but the ‘most wonderful thing that has ever happened in my life’.

The star spoke to the crowd during the section of the show dedicated to her Red album, revealing that the Eras Tour has become her ‘entire life’.

‘You know, this is actually the 100th show of the tour,’ she told the audience.

‘Absolutely, that blows my mind. That doesn’t feel like a real statistic to me, because this has definitely been the most exhausting, all-encompassing, but most joyful, most rewarding, most wonderful thing that has ever happened in my life, this tour.’

Taylor said the 100th show marked the first time she has admitted to herself ‘that this tour is going to end in December, like that’s it’.

‘I think this tour has really become my entire life,’ the 34-year-old continued. ‘It has taken over everything.

‘I think I once had hobbies, but I don’t know what they were anymore, because all I do when I’m not on-stage is sit at home, and try to think of clever acoustic song mashups, and think about what you might want to hear.

Taylor said the 100th show marked the first time she has admitted to herself ‘that this tour is going to end in December, like that’s it’

Taylor Swift described her record-breaking Eras Tour as ‘exhausting’ but the ‘most wonderful thing that has ever happened in my life’+

‘When I’m not on the stage, I’m dreaming about being back on the stage with you guys.’

Taylor praised her fans who had ‘done so much to be with us’.

‘You’ve made plans so far in advance, you planned what you were going to wear, you memorised lyrics, you got yourselves here, you figured out parking, you figured out transportation, and I want to spend the 100th show just thinking about that, and living in this moment with you, and being here with you.

‘Just know that I appreciate every single ounce of effort that you put in to be with us when this tour reaches triple digits of shows, so thank you.’

Tonight’s surprise songs were I Can See You mashed up with Mine, as well as performances of Cornelia Street and Maroon.

The Liverpool FC stadium was transformed into a sea of pink and red after many devoted Swift fans – known as Swifties – waited for hours in plastic ponchos to protect themselves from the dreary weather.

Taylor, wearing a pink bejewelled bodysuit on stage, told fans: ‘I’m so excited. What you’ve already done here is crazy, because it has been raining all day; you have braved the rain; you came here ready to drape yourselves in plastic; you’ve been standing here; you’ve been ready for the show.

‘I know a lot of you travelled a far distance to get to the show right?

‘I just want to say, those things means the world to us – getting to play this show for people who would go so far above and beyond for us, and welcome us to Liverpool in such a fashion. We love you so much.’

Taylor Swift thanked her fans for braving the rain all day while on stage at Anfield Stadium tonight+

Taylor Swift thanked her fans for braving the rain all day while on stage at Anfield Stadium tonight

Taylor wore a pink bejewelled bodysuit as she expressed her gratitude to the crowd+

Taylor swift fans queueing from the early hours to see their favourite singer in concert

The singer added: ‘And you know, while I was walking to the stage, they pulled me aside and told me another thing that you’ve done for us tonight. And that thing is that you broke the all-time attendance record for this stadium tonight.’

While performing her hit song 22, Taylor gave her fedora hat to a little girl at the end of the stage.

While performing the Folklore section of the show, Taylor referred to the Liverpool crowd as ‘so incredibly loveable’.

The UK leg of Swift’s mammoth international Eras tour began in Edinburgh and saw the enthusiastic dancing of nearly 73,000 Swifties picked up by earthquake monitors 3.7 miles away.

Earlier today, poncho-wearing Swifties headed to Anfield Stadium in droves clad in sequins, feather boas and cowboy hats as they counted down the hours to see their favourite popstar.

‘Nothing could dampen our spirits today,’ Reece Edwards, 22, from Manchester who dressed up in the Reputation Era told MailOnline.

Dressed in coordinated sparkly dresses with her friends Lucy Powell, 16, added: ‘We too excited. We got the tickets a year ago and we are so excited to see her perform Reputation songs.