Liverpool has never visited Australia before and neither has midfielder Lucas Leiva, but the Brazilian cannot wait for that to change when the club travels to Melbourne on tour this summer.
The Reds will take on Melbourne Victory at the world-famous Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 24 as part of its preseason tour presented by Standard Chartered.
Tickets to attend the exhibition contest sold out in record time, and Lucas is already relishing what will undoubtedly be an occasion to savor next month.
“I have never been to Australia before, so it’ll be my first time, but I have heard a lot of great things about it,” the 26-year-old told LFCTour.com.
“I have a few friends who went to visit and all the messages are very positive, so I am really looking forward to a country we have never been to before, meeting the fans and seeing how many supporters Liverpool have around the world.
“I am really looking forward to it — and I think it will be great weather, as well!
“I have a lot of friends who went to Australia to learn English. I didn’t need to go there to learn English because I had the chance to come to England, but they all said it is a brilliant country with very nice, warm people.
“I am looking forward to knowing more about the country, spending some time there and meeting the fans.”
Liverpool’s fan base Down Under is large and Lucas has explained the importance of Aussie Kopites being given the opportunity to watch their heroes in the flesh.
“It’s important because we know we have a lot of fans around the world,” he added.
“We’ve been to America, to Asia and now we want to go to Australia to meet the fans and give them the opportunity to get a bit closer.
“I don’t think many of them have the chance to come to England and watch a game at Anfield, so it will be a chance to repay the support they give us through social networks and from watching on the TV.
“I have been in many different countries with Liverpool and all of them have been amazing with the support. It shows how much respect Liverpool has around the world and it’s up to the players now to keep this history going because it’s really important.”
The trip will give the Reds the chance to play at another of the world’s most iconic sporting venues in the form of the 100,000-capacity MCG, following on from last summer’s game at Boston’s Fenway Park.
“On the last tour we played at Fenway Park. It was really nice and a stadium that plays another sport,” Lucas said.
“It’s a great experience that the players wanted to have — playing in different stadiums. I think it’s going to be a very nice party on the day.”
Photo via Liverpoolfc.com
