Liverpool Football Club has announced that the team will return to Boston as part of the club’s 2014 preseason tour in July.
The Reds will play Serie A (Italian first division) club AS Roma at Fenway Park on Wednesday, July 23 — 30 years after the two teams met in the final of the 1984 European Cup final in Rome.
That game was famously won by Liverpool on penalties, and when the two sides met again in New England in 2012, a sell-out crowd of 37,000 fans recreated the Anfield atmosphere at the historic home of the Boston Red Sox.
To enhance the gameday experience, Liverpool erected a replica of the Shankly Gates outside the ballpark, while inside, fans attempted to bring the Kop to Boston with a rousing rendition of the Liverpool’s anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
“We are pleased to announce the latest leg of our preseason tour, which takes us back to Boston,” said Billy Hogan, the club’s chief commercial officer. “This fixture gives thousands of fans in and around New England the chance to see Liverpool play.
“I distinctly remember the atmosphere at the game two years ago. It was incredible. The singing from the fans made Fenway Park feel like Anfield for the night.”
The Boston game will be the club’s first in the United States this summer with games in Chicago, New York and Charlotte already announced as part of the Guinness International Champions Cup tournament.
The Reds will take on Olympiacos on July 27 at Chicago’s Soldier Field Stadium before traveling to New York to play Manchester City at the Yankee Stadium on July 30 with a final group-stage game to be played on Aug. 2 against AC Milan at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
As well as the all-important games, Liverpool is looking to build on the success of the previous two preseason summer tours and put in place a program of activity off the field that will give fans better access to the club through player appearances and Liverpool FC Foundation activity in the local communities.
For Tom Werner, Liverpool FC chairman, the prospect of seeing Liverpool once again play at the oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball is an exciting one.
“Liverpool FC and AS Roma are two of the most highly regarded clubs in all of football and we’re thrilled to welcome them back to Boston and showcase some of the world’s top talent playing the ‘Beautiful Game’ right here on the pitch at Fenway Park.
“The atmosphere at their first Fenway match was electric and with both clubs’ passionate supporters, tremendous worldwide following and strong ties to the city, the rematch is sure to be memorable.”
Tickets for the game in Boston will go on sale on May 16. For more information on Liverpool FC’s 2014 preseason tour, stay tuned to lfctour.com.
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Photo via LiverpoolFC.com
