Liverpool in Australia: Premier League club could be headed to Sydney for exhibition match

BARCLAYS Premier League club Liverpool could be headed to Sydney next year for an exhibition match expected to inject $25m into the NSW economy.

Melbourne Victory v Liverpool FC at the MCG, Melbourne 24th July 2013, Steven Gerrard applauds the crowd

ENGLISH Premier League super power Liverpool FC could be headed to Sydney next year for an exhibition match expected to inject $25 million into the NSW economy.

In a major coup for the NSW Government and Football Federation Australia, NSW is positioned to trump Queensland in a multi-million dollar bidding war to showcase The Reds $840 million roster in the harbour city.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal negotiations are in the closing stages, with the only sticking point being Liverpool’s price tag.

Provided all parties can strike a deal, one of the world’s most popular football clubs will arrive in Sydney next July with possible opponents including an A-League All Stars line-up, Western Sydney Wanderers or Sydney FC.

Liverpool’s Aussie keeper Brad Jones at the MCG.

The match would be staged at Sydney Olympic Park’s ANZ Stadium in front of an expected sell-out crowd of 83,000 fans, with ticket sales alone worth upwards of $6.5 million.

The prospect of the Western Sydney Wanderers or Sydney FC’s huge supporter bases filling ANZ Stadium in conjunction with an army of Liverpool fans would create a truly magical sporting spectacle.

Riding the wave of success of footballing super powers like Manchester United and Juventus visiting Australia over the course of the last two years, the FFA has been in the market for the last six months looking to lure another big overseas club.

“FFA is in discussions with several big European clubs to find the right opponent to play the Foxtel A-League All Stars next July,” an FFA spokesperson said.

“Nothing is finalised at this stage, but there’s certainly an appetite among state government agencies, stadiums and broadcasters to be part of the show.

“The great thing for Australian football is that we have huge credibility after the success of the All Stars matches against Manchester United and Juventus.”

Melbourne Victory v Liverpool FC at the MCG, Melbourne 24th July 2013.

Liverpool’s roster includes footballing superstars Steven Gerrard, Mario Balotelli, Alberto Moreno and Rickie Lambert, with captain Gerrard earning a weekly wage of $250,000.

The rendition of Liverpool’s world-famous “You’ll Never Walk Alone” at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in July last year was one of the highlights of the Australian sporting calendar, with captain Gerrard saluting by booting a goal in the 2-0 win over Melbourne Victory.

The 95,000 fans at the MCG marked the biggest crowd Liverpool has ever played in front of, alerting The Reds power brokers to the rivers of gold on offer in terms the Australian marketplace.

The reason the FFA favours Liverpool playing the All-Stars rather than Western Sydney or FC is because the national appeal would deliver them a stronger television broadcast rights deal.

Queensland also made an audacious bid to try and secure the English Premier League giants, with Queensland Events planning to stage a match against A-League outfit the Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium.

Liverpool fans at the MCG.

But the NSW Government is believed to hold the strongest chance of landing the major event, with the tourism value to Sydney believed to be in the vicinity of $10 million.

The Reds visit could also coincide with a number of other footballing super powers coming to Australia to feature in the International Champions Cup in Melbourne in the middle of next year.

The International Champions Cup is a round robin tournament featuring some of the biggest European football clubs, with the Nine Entertainment Co possibly bringing Manchester City and Real Madrid to Melbourne.

Steven Gerrard gets a kick past James Jeggo.