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Liverpool to take on Malaysia team in pre-season clash in Kuala Lumpur

Xinhua, March 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

In-form Liverpool FC Wednesday announced its first team will play a pre-season friendly match against a Malaysian XI in Kuala Lumpur on their first visit to the city since a successful trip in 2011.

Brendan Rodgers' side, currently bidding for a top-four place in the English Premier League, will play the Malaysian side in the 80,000 capacity Bukit Jalil National Stadium on July 24.

A week earlier Liverpool FC will be playing matches in Australia.

LFC's website today said the Kuala Lumpur fixture is just one element of a programme of activity that the club is delivering in 2015 to bring Malaysian fans closer to the team they support.

As well as a full Reds squad, the touring party will include coaching staff from the club's official charity, the Liverpool FC Foundation, to carry out work in the community throughout the visit as well as taking part in events with official supporters' clubs.

Ian Ayre, Liverpool's chief executive officer, said: "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.

"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."

The match will be organised by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and promoted by ProEvents International Sdn Bhd.

The FAM general-secretary, Dato' Hamidin Haji Mohd Amin, said: "The national football governing body is truly honoured to host Liverpool once again and are excited by the upcoming fixture. It's not that we often get to see English Premier League stars. We watch them in awe on our television sets as they take on their opponents, mesmerising them with their gifted football skills. Watching our Malaysian XI play Liverpool is going to be an enthralling experience for all fans."

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."

Liverpool's return to Australia comes two years after the team received an incredible reception in Melbourne. Games will be played in Brisbane on July 17 and in Adelaide three days later.

Manager Rodgers has said this week Liverpool could aim for second spot in the Premier League, guaranteeing his team a place in the European Champion's League, considered as the world's most successful club tournament. Endit