Hong Kong football fans are in for a treat as legendary Liverpool striker Ian Rush has hailed the city's passionate supporters and world-class facilities ahead of Saturday's much-anticipated match between Liverpool and AC Milan at Kai Tak Sports Park.
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The 63-year-old Welsh icon, who scored 346 goals for Liverpool across 15 seasons, expressed his admiration for Hong Kong's devoted fanbase during an interview on Friday morning.
"I've visited Hong Kong many times, and the Liverpool fan community keeps growing," said Rush, recalling how 20,000-25,000 fans attended a recent training session.’
"The enthusiasm here is incredible – these fans might never get to Anfield, so we're bringing Liverpool to them."
Rush, now a club ambassador, reserved special praise for the air-conditioned Kai Tak venue: "I've never seen a stadium like this. The cooling system makes all the difference in this heat – it's unbelievable. I'm genuinely excited to see a match here."
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From kop hero to global ambassador
Reflecting on his transition from player to ambassador, the 2006 English Football Hall of Fame inductee shared: "Scoring goals at Anfield was magical because you could see the joy on fans' faces. Now, even as a supporter myself, moments like that Barcelona comeback remind me what makes this club special – the connection with fans."
Backing the new generation
The Reds' all-time top scorer voiced high expectations for new signings like Hugo Ekitike, who arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday.
"Players quickly learn Liverpool isn't an ordinary club. You can't just perform in half the matches – the standards here demand excellence in five out of every six games."
When asked about Mohamed Salah potentially breaking his goal record (the Egyptian currently has 245 for Liverpool), Rush responded: "He's 100 behind – if he extends his contract, he's got a real shot at it."
The Saturday showdown marks Liverpool's first Hong Kong appearance since 2017, with Rush promising fans "a proper taste of Anfield spirit" in Asia's world city.
