Liverpool fans cheer on their team during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 soccer match between Besiktas Istanbul and Liverpool FC at the Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey on Feb 26. EPA/SEDAT SUNA
PETALING JAYA: Liverpool FC has confirmed it has scheduled a tour of Malaysia as part of preparations for 2015-2016 season.
"The first team will play a game in Kuala Lumpur, their first visit to the city since their successful 2011 pre-season tour," LFC said in a statement. Liverpool beat Malaysia 6-3 in that match.
The Reds will play a Malaysian side at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on July 24. The match is organised by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and promoted by ProEvents International Sdn Bhd.
LFC said its fixture in Kuala Lumpur is just one element of a programme of activities that the Club is delivering in 2015 to bring Malaysian fans closer to the team they support.
"We visited Kuala Lumpur as part of our 2011 pre-season tour and the support we received was incredible, not only from the 80,000 fans that turned out to watch us play at Bukit Jalil, but all our fans in Malaysia throughout our visit, " said Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre.
“Pre-season is an important time for the team as they prepare for the upcoming season and the match against the Malaysian XI is an exciting part of that preparation.
"The tour gives our supporters a chance to see the team up close, no matter how far away from Anfield they might live.”
FAM general-secretary Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said FAM "is truly honoured to host Liverpool once again and excited by the upcoming fixture."
“It’s not that we often get to see English Premier League stars. We watch them in awe in our television sets as they take on their opponents, mesmerising them with their gifted football skills”, he said.
“Watching our Malaysian XI play Liverpool is going to be an enthralling experience for all fans.”
Apart from a full squad, the touring party will include staff from the Club's charity, Liverpool FC Foundation, to carry out work in the community throughout the visit as well as taking part in events with official supporters' clubs.
ProEvents chief executive Julian Kam said: “Securing one of the world's greatest football clubs to return to play a match in Kuala Lumpur is a testament to the way Malaysian football fans have embraced Liverpool FC."
“We're very much looking forward to welcoming Brendan Rodgers and the team to Malaysia and provide LFC fans in the country with an amazing opportunity to see their favourite players in action.”
For more information on ticketing and general tour details visit www.LFCTour.com
