Liverpool to play first ever match in China

English football giants Liverpool will play their first ever match in China, where they are estimated to have tens of millions of fans, during their Asian tour next month, officials said today.

English football giants Liverpool will play their first ever match in China, where they are estimated to have tens of millions of fans, during their Asian tour next month, officials said on Thursday.

The club, will play a friendly match against Guangdong Sunray Cave in the southern metropolis of Guangzhou on July 13, before they head to Malaysia. There, Liverpool will play a Malaysian XI in Kuala Lumpur on July 16.

"Our football club and the city of Liverpool have great links with China. The city of Liverpool has the oldest Chinese community in Europe," said Ian Ayre, club managing director.

"As a global football club, it is important to us that we give our fans in China the chance to see the team in action.

"At Liverpool FC we take these games very seriously. This game will be our first as we kick off our preparations for the 2011-12 campaign," Ayre said.

Sponsor Standard Chartered said the highly popular team have an appromimate 60 million fans in mainland China alone.

"It is great that we can give our supporters in China and Malaysia the chance to watch the team play," said manager Kenny Dalglish.

"Our last tour of Asia in 2009 was a great success and we're delighted to be returning this summer," he said.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Blackburn and Aston Villa will also visit Asia in July, while Spanish super-club Real Madrid will play two matches in China in August.