IT was perhaps fitting that at the end of an extraordinary trip to Malaysia, Liverpool would produce such a raucous scoreline.
This has been like no other pre-season tour in memory for the Reds and after three days of enjoying demigod status, the players bid farewell to Kuala Lumpur in the best way possible.
Nearly a full house crammed into the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, a southern suburb of the capital city, on Saturday night to witness an historic final occasion on Liverpool’s maiden Malaysian expedition.
A nine-goal game, with the right balance of home success stories to keep both sides of the fans’ loyalties satisfied but with the desired outcome, was pretty much all they could have asked for as they left Anfield over a week ago.
Despite the sweltering conditions of early evening KL, the game took time to warm up before it burst into life for a rousing finale.
Given it was only Liverpool’s second competitive run out of the summer so far, and that the suffocating humidity can suck the life out of the fittest players with ease, it was understandable much of the first hour was driven in a low gear.
Not that the devoted masses cared and after almost 38,000 came to the same venue – built for the 1998 Commonwealth Games – to watch the team train on Thursday night, double that wanted to make Liverpool’s send off one never to forget.
Organisers had asked to make the National Stadium a home from home earlier this week and though replicating the Anfield thrill is an impossible task, the supporters still managed to create an astonishing atmosphere.
One which can only be compared to that of a major cup final, such was the passion booming from the stands.
From the excitement of the fans as they travelled on the train to the match to when inside the ground, everything about the weekend’s friendly was in line with what the Liverpool players quickly learnt was par for the course in these parts. Bedlam was a word which often cropped up in conversation.
Tales of how the Chinese fans showed their loyalty to Dalglish’s men will become stellar anecdotes for years to come but when the pre-season trip progressed to Malaysia, the Asian support became a different beast all together.
And after serving up a 90 minutes to remember for the Malaysian public, Liverpool’s invitation to return will be waiting for them when they arrive back at Melwood, although it was always going to be.
Liverpool will look back fondly of the three days they spent in KL and how the excursion has proved an invaluable chance to engage their Asian fans, but they cannot afford too much sentiment because getting the players fit, staying free of injury and slowly sharpening the reflexes is always the priority at this time, never mind how many thousands of miles you fly.
Thankfully, the Reds reported no ill affects from facing the Malaysian national team before they moved onto Singapore on Sunday ahead of a return to England today.
With the start of the new Premier League season just under a month away, encounters at this time of year and against such opposition – Malaysia are ranked 144th globally and preparing for a World Cup qualifier against Singapore next week – should not be given great scrutiny.
Charlie Adam will perhaps take some of the greatest satisfaction, although David Ngog and Maxi Rodriguez will value their double strikes as timely reminders to the manager of their quality, though the former’s goals may yet be his parting gift.
Adam, perhaps more significantly, grabbed his first goal for Liverpool after being handed a maiden start.
Following Wednesday’s substitute debut in the 4-3 win over Guangdong Sunray Cave in China, the former Blackpool captain was on the pitch to hear the opening whistle on Saturday and opened the scoring after 27 minutes from the penalty spot after Andy Carroll was felled by Mohammad Fadhli Mohd Shas.
At the second time of asking, when the referee ordered his initial, successful penalty to be retaken, Adam fired with confidence beyond Mohd Sharbinee Allawee.
The lead would only last 15 minutes as Malaysia stirred for the first of their two fightbacks on the night.
In a rare foray forward, with Liverpool having dominated possession, the hosts won a free-kick 20 yards from goal which captain Shafiq Rahim used to full effect, finding the top right hand corner of Brad Jones’ goal.
Cue a question of loyalty from the stands.
Prior to kick-off, national coach Dakut J Rajagopal had called for the Malaysian public to put their adoration for Liverpool to one side and support their side homeland; he asked them to wear blue instead of the red.
His cry fell on deaf ears until Rahim equalised and though part of the fans were drawn to cheering on their countrymen, as thoughts of a famous victory crossed their mind, they too remained loyal to Liverpool.
Ngog’s quick fire double with 22 minutes remaining still produced joy from the spectators and too lit the touch paper on a frantic final period.
With Ngog having made it 3-1, Maxi pounced from close range on 76 minutes to extend Liverpool’s lead to three.
Malaysian substitute Mohd Safee Mohd Sali threatened to steal the show with a swift two-goal haul of his own as he slotted past Martin Hansen, a second half replacement for Peter Gulacsi, twice in as many minutes.
But after Maxi nodded in his second from six yards to make it 5-3, Dirk Kuyt then lashed home deep into injury time to add some final gloss to a picture perfect trip.
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