Liverpool, Chelsea to Play in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 (Bernama) -- World renown English Premier League (EPL) clubs Liverpool and Chelsea are expected to play friendly matches against the national squad during their Far East Asian Tour in July.

Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) secretary-general Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad said FAM had received the green light from both clubs while the dates for both matches would be announced soon.

"There is also a big possibility that another EPL club will be coming here for a friendly match against the national team. That prospect is still in the discussion stage," he told reporters here Tuesday.

Azzuddin said the dates for the matches between Liverpool and Chelsea would only be three to four days apart and both matches would be played at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

"We have had discussions with the National Sports Complex and the management are receptive of the idea," he said.

Though Chelsea has been here a number of times, Liverpool's visit to Malaysia will be the first, since the last planned match against Selangor in 2008 was cancelled.

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=572870

So Liverpool and Chelsea confirmed! Liverpool fans rejoiced because this will be the first time the reds drop by!

I think the support Liverpool will receive will be massive, despite them having never visited. It recent years, the team and visited Singapore twice and Thailand once back when Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler and Jamie Redknapp were still in the side. During these visits, there were a fair amount of Malaysian fans that made the trek. I'll bet my bottom dollar that this time round, you'll see an influx of fans from our two neighbouring countries. The Singapore Liverpool's Supporters Club and the East of Anfield Supporters Club are probably already planning for it. The turnout in 2009 when Liverpool visited Singapore was massive with plenty of "Alonso, please stay" banners, amongst a sea of other banners. Reminded me a little of Istanbul. Some friends of mine went during the previous visit to Singapore. They found out where the team was staying and camped there. Went to the bar and found Sammy Lee, Phil Thompson and some of the other coaching staff having drinks. They chatted and took some photos. They went back again the next day after the game and the whole team plus players were having a party. My friends tried to go in but was told by the manager that it was a closed party. Thankfully, Sammy Lee recognised them from the night before and told the manager to let them in. What a top bloke. It's why I like that he's back in the fold. The gesture was very Shanklyesque. No doubt a tradition that has been passed down by the great man.

I'm amped and I'm expecting a big turnout. Demographically, Liverpool fans are generally older and I can only imagine how long they've been waiting to watch the team play in the flesh. I'm sure the LSCM will work together with the official club in Singapore (or maybe not) but MyRAWK will endevour to further enrichen our ties with the East of Anfield Supporters Club in Singapore by jointly organising ticket purchases so everyone can sit together. Pretty sure the Liverbirds guys from JB will stop at nothing to make the journey up. They also have members in Kuantan and Kedah. Mad fellas drove 3 hrs up from JB for the Masters and left right after. That's a lot of travelling.

I doubt ticket prices will be released too early as the clubs are still working on securing sponsors.

The picture below shows Singapore's attempt to emulate the Kop.


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two adidas sponsored team.adidas must be part of the organizer.no chance for me to get a free ticket from my nike friend.

I just came back from Anfield for the stadium tour but i couldn't get to see the reds play as there were no games there (went before the Braga game). Now i can fulfill my wishes by getting to see them play here in Malaysia. What a year this is becoming for me!!!

This post has been edited by plateau: Mar 24 2011, 06:01 PM

How about Man U?

they already here, 2 seasons ago, playing twice..

this is a good opportunity for Malaysian player. but TBH i prefer them to had a frequent friendly match to Asian giants football nation like Japan, Korea, middle east nations. its hard to get the opportunity though, financial -wise and our ranking .

This post has been edited by dundermifflin: Mar 25 2011, 09:57 AM

yap.. even asian non giants are ditching our friendly request......

This kinda matches are more like a circus exhibition for me. i would rather value the A Ranked friendly vs Hong Kong the other day more...

but i agree that even in pre-season, some of these foreign players's skill valued more than 50mil ringgit ... so it will be a good competitive spar with us.. to prepare for the gruelling world cup and olympic qualifying second round..

and some of football fans in Malaysia who never grace a football stadium before can finally be able to do so...

First and foremost this is an exhibition match and yes, the intention is obviously to swell the fanbase and to profit from it. It is expected that these matches will not test each teams resolve. Premiere League players will all be told to go easy and not risk injury. You will get of course your over exhuberant local player looking to prove a point. It happens all the time. That being said, we don't go to these games expecting good football. We go primarily to see the stars we worship in the flesh.

i actually agrees with all your points, actually. Some of yours also agrees with mine.

i just want to add that by their standards, even by going easy and not risking injury, they should be able to put dominance over us. its happens all the time. it will be a challenge for our local lads to be exuberant to prove a point. Which happens quite regularly lately, but does not happens all the time in the past.

i also will not go to these matches expecting good football either. And frankly speaking i also hope our lads go easy and not risk injury either,.. we have much more important World Cup and Olympic qualifying matches around that time...

We already lost Khyrill Muhymeen and Zaquan due too international friendly injuries. Doubts still remain whether both will return as the same players again... Thats kinda OK because its a rank A friendlies. But to lose other players also for profit-oriented private functions will be a blow..

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Added on March 25, 2011, 12:07 pmAnd its good that a lot of you can finally see the stars you worship in the flesh.

This post has been edited by aressandro10: Mar 25 2011, 12:21 PM

at least i can see Torres <3

I can only imagine what it must mean to the local lads as well. I'm sure that they are fans of some of the visiting players if not teams. How would you choose to play if you were asked to mark your idol? Would you play full steam ahead, knowing very well you could injure the dude? Would you let him walk over you. I guess that's where your status as a professional comes into play and you do what you have to do to stop whoever you're up against. Ah well, I'm just going to have a good time in the end. Don't really care about the result in the end.

off the field, they might be a fan, but on the field it will be every man for himself.. idol or not, self pride will be more important than your idol's pride... if the idols are as good as people pays them, they should be able to walk over us without breaking a sweat... its a challenge to the local players to prove people that expected them to fail, wrong... especially this batch of players... they showed that did not overawed by MU last the.. i expect the same vs Liverpool and Chelsae...

the best way to show respect to your idol is to show that we can be better than him.... not by helping him to look good on our expense... beside, judging from displays during the EPL masters, i dont think the foreigners are respecting the locals a lot.. fan or no fan..

although i will not be surprised if they become over-exuberant on the first match and became too flat out for the second...

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Added on March 30, 2011, 6:17 pmLebanon VS Malaysia-U21 19 June
Malaysia-U21 VS Lebanon 23 June
Malaysia VS Taiwan 29 June
Taiwan VS Malaysia 3 July
Malaysia VS Chelsea July
Malaysia VS Liverpool July
Malaysia VS Arsenal July
Singapore VS "Malaysia" 23 July
"Malaysia" VS Singapore 28 July

tak masuk match MSL lagi... sooo much football... may we enters August with smile in our faces and pride and joy in our hearts..

This post has been edited by aressandro10: Mar 30 2011, 06:17 PM

The Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal matches are in that order or we don't know yet?

dude , how much is the price ?

no definate dates yet... with the result of the draws, some doubts some of the matches will even happen ..... or the will come but will not be facing RG's team... maybe just a malaysian selection under OKS that will not feature all the stars from Rg's team..

I read on Chelsea's official website that they will be playing against Malaysia XI on the 21st of July. i hope they change it to earlier coz im leaving KL on the 18th. ddamn

My sister and her husband were there at that time. He really enjoyed it.

MU have came over quite a number of times already but I haven't been to any yet. I just don't know who to support

This post has been edited by khelben: Apr 5 2011, 06:20 PM

Someone pls offer me2 tickets to watch arsenal in kl

go buy urself la...