Liverpool
Liverpool
.Melbourne Victory have launched a bid to lure English giants Liverpool to Australia for an exhibition match this year.
Victory, who previously hosted Greek champions Olympiakos and David Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy, would most likely entertain Liverpool in July.
Victory chairman Anthony Di Pietro said Liverpool sales director Olly Dale had attended the club's blockbuster clash with Sydney FC on Saturday as part of an evaluation of the region.
"We have come together and hopefully we can construct a major deal for something very special to take place this year," he said.
Di Pietro said Liverpool were not in the country to scout players, as had been previously reported.
Lou Sticca, the sports management consultant who negotiated to bring Galaxy to Melbourne, is believed to be involved in the discussions with Liverpool.
Liverpool announced in July that they planned to visit nearby Indonesia in 2013 as part of a sponsorship agreement with airline Garuda Indonesia.
"Indonesia is an ambitious country with a rapidly growing economy which the club has great affiliation with and where we hope to hold next year's pre-season tour," managing director Ian Ayre said at the time.
Adding to speculation, Liverpool this week launched a dedicated Twitter channel for supporters in Australia and New Zealand.
"The Reds have always enjoyed a massive following in Australia and New Zealand," the club said on their website.
"In terms of supporters, Liverpool has more international members from Australia and New Zealand than from any other country in the world."
A match between Melbourne Victory and Liverpool would rival a fixture between an A-League All-Stars side and Manchester United at Sydney's ANZ Stadium on July 20.
The Victorian government, who reportedly baulked at the $3 million asking price for Manchester United to come to town, would likely provide funding for the Liverpool bid.
Wish they would bring out decent ****ing teams
I want arsenal!!!! Get it done tinks. Yeah right
Sorry member, stupid comment.
Bringing out any team with the fanbase and image of a Liverpool, a Man Utd, an Arsenal, a Chelsea or an LA Galaxy has to be good for the promotion of the game out here.
I wonder how much the Galaxy visit pumped into the local coffers and how many of those fans who came to see Beckham have been to more recent games?
They are.
No financial benefit coming here though.
Market isn't big enough.
Club s all about coin, not fans
If this goes to ANZ, the rage from melbourne will become unbearable, should be coming to play against newy with Johnston Guest of Honour at the game.FFA in negotiations to bring EPL giants Liverpool to Sydney
Phil Rothfield
The Sunday Telegraph
January 26, 2013 6:38PM
Luis Suarez of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Norwich City at Anfield on January 19. Source: Getty Images
ENGLISH soccer giants Liverpool could be following Manchester United to Australia in July.
Soccer boss David Gallop has been in secret talks with Liverpool officials for several weeks.
Club representatives are in Australia this weekend and attended Saturday night's Sydney FC-Melbourne Victory game.
The Liverpool game would be played on the Wednesday night or weekend after an A-League all-stars team meet Manchester United at ANZ Stadium on Saturday, July 20.
Tickets for the Red Devils game sold out within two days. FFA officials are expecting the same response for tickets to see Liverpool, one of the world's most famous sporting clubs.
Steven Gerrard and Uruguayan champion Luis Suarez are their biggest names. They also have a strong Aussie connection through Newcastle's Craig Johnston and more recently Socceroo Harry Kewell and current back-up goalkeeper Brad Jones.
Like the Manchester United game, Liverpool would generate more $10 million from gate takings, corporate sales and merchandising and would give soccer another massive boost in this country.
Commercial free-to-air television networks have all expressed interest in the games. At this stage, ANZ Stadium is favoured to get both Manchester United and Liverpool, but Melbourne will bid for Liverpool.
A decision on a venue is expected by next weekend.
ANZ has a massive year in sport, including two Origin games, a Bledisloe Cup, the British and Irish Lions, Manchester United, two World Cup soccer qualifiers and the NRL finals.
Liverpool giants? have they read the paper in the last 3 years.
If liverpool does come to australia... play it in brisbane or melbourne (realisetically).... Preferably Mackay or Townsville for my own liking but would never happen. Sydney got Man Utd coming, spread the games out against the big teams not just one city.
For a start I wouldn't call bringing out a team with a large supporter base of Plastic Euro fans a great idea. Once again the Australian public is short changed with a team treating it as a pre season kick about as fans pay top dollar to watch what is basically a warm up activity. Biggest problem with this is all we are appealing to is the plastic fans out there who spend most of their time snubbing the local game as not good enough. Why do we need to bend over backward to accommodate these people?? All they do is shit on the local game.
FFA should be spending time and resources on the existing football supporters first and foremost. How about actually organising some top class opponents in this country for the Socceroos?? How about a game V Spain V Brasil V Argentina v Germany etc ie the top echelon of opponents rather than the shite they usually serve up??? How about also organising it so they also turn up with their stars and not a bunch of fill ins as the big names take a holiday and miss it with some minor alleged injury.
Who wants to watch some plastic Euro team out here on a pre season match?? I sure as hell don't
How was the weather when then extra 316 fronted?
Liverpool game would turn a profit.
FFA should be doing this instead of letting others profit.
Would be happy for them to do it but the clubs deserve the money. Something like using the money raised during the all stars games to provide prize money for the premiers and champions would be a nice change, wont happen I know.
Lets not forget that its the clubs signing theses players and ultimately if they get injured it won't be the FFA carrying the can it will be the clubs.
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