The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Liverpool, Europe’s form team, could be set for 2025 Hong Kong date; club maintains silence

Influential figures in Hong Kong football are trying to attract the world’s biggest clubs to Kai Tak Sports Park for 2025

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Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring from the spot in Liverpool’s Uefa Champions League victory over Girona. Photo: EPA-EFE

Paul McNamara

Published: 5:08pm, 12 Dec 2024Updated: 5:45pm, 12 Dec 2024

Speculation has heightened over Liverpool potentially playing in Hong Kong next summer, after the English Premier League leaders refused to deny they would return to the city for the first time since 2017.

When it comes to visits from European footballing forces, Hong Kong has fed on scraps compared with rival Asian destinations over the past eight years. Manchester City played Kitchee at Hong Kong Stadium in 2019, while the same venue hosted Atletico Madrid’s game against the same opponents in August this year.

Last month, Eric Fok Kai-shan, the chairman of the local football association, told the Post that talks were under way to try to bring major English teams to the new Kai Tak Sports Park’s 50,000-seat stadium in 2025

“English Premier League clubs are always one of the natural choices, given Hong Kong fans’ interest in the Premier League, so that is something we would consider,” Fok said.

Fok’s comments came 24 hours after leading promoter Paul Kam, whose ProEvents company is organising the 2025 Lunar New Year Cup, featuring a number of former leading European and South American players, told the Post that “there will be top European teams coming to Hong Kong next year”.

Dutchman Arne Slot has made a flying start as Liverpool boss after replacing Jurgen Klopp. Photo: EPA-EFE

It was suggested on Wednesday that Liverpool would embark on a preseason tour of Asia in summer 2025, with matches in Hong Kong and Japan featuring on their travel programme.