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[post updated: 20 August 2009]

I was in Singapore last Sunday to catch Liverpool FC vs the Singapore national team. Thanks to Kevin who got me the all expenses paid trip there. Although it was a rush thing, it was really quite an experience.

proud to be part of the entourage..

There were a total of 5 busses of Liverpool fans from KL with the labels  “The Red Entourage Tour” on the sides and front of the bus. There were also a bus each from Ipoh and Malacca, which we met up later in Singapore. We departed from Bukit Jalil on Sunday morning around 915AM. We stopped by a KFC outlet along the way for lunch which we redeemed with our given voucher. Voucher entitles you to an X-Meal…not too bad I must say. But by then, I kinda regretted having a little too much Dim Sum before we boarded the bus.

The journey took a little longer than expected because we made a few stops along the way. Mainly because, as part of an “entourage” all the busses have to stick together. So we met up at highway rest areas for “toilet breaks” and “beer breaks”. Yes…beer breaks..there were a few cartons of beer on board the bus in a cooler…how convenient. The organizers kept telling us, we have to finish the beer as we are not allowed to bring in alcohol upon reaching the checkpoint. So…you can see a few uncles and aunties drinking beer in the middle of the highway rest area in the afternoon. It’s quite a funny sight as the elder crowd kept asking us to drink up and don’t waste beer!

The auntie that can’t wait to drink..

Once we reached our hotel, which by the way was a Parkroyal hotel, we were given time to freshen up and rest, before coming down for high-tea. You see, the game starts at 730PM, so it seems a little illogical to be providing dinner. Very good compromise I must say. Well, being Carlsberg, what’s high-tea without free-flow of beer?!! Kevin and I had 2 bottles each during high tea but when we wanted to get our third…they ran out! Kevin jokingly said..”this is a Carlsberg event…how can they run out of beer!” Oh well, I guess the didn’t expect people like us there…haha!

free flow beer always makes me happy!

After high-tea, we were given our tickets for the game..

Oh..noticed the ticket says: “Grandstand Lower”? It means we’re really really close to the players. In fact, we were so close, one diehard girl fan wanted to give one of the players a present. Obviously she was being ignored, but it was fun to see how she begged (yes she really begged Xabi Alonso to take her gift!).

Calrsberg girls posed when we took out our cameras

The following are pictures of the stadium and during the match.

Reina warming up..

warming up during half time

the man everyone came to see…Fernando Torres

The atmosphere was electrifying. If you close your eyes for a moment during the anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, and during all the classic Kop chants, I swear you will feel like you’re in Anfield. The match ended with Liverpool thrashing the Singapore national team 5-0. Honestly I’m quite surprised with the score line because I always thought they were a better than the Malaysian national team who managed to play well although they lost (3-2) to Manchester United because of a late goal. Maybe its a sign that Malaysian football is improving..

the scoreboard says it all

We headed for supper (and a few more drinks) after the match and call it a night. The next day, we had an awesome hotel buffet breakfast, and then headed home. Thanks Kevin for letting me with you on this once in a lifetime experience and thanks Carlsberg Malaysia for organizing such an awesome event.

*Click here for more pictures

I got a call from Kevin yesterday afternoon and he told me that he had won some tickets to watch Liverpool FC play in Singapore and whether or not I’m interested to follow. Of course without hesitation I said “YES!”. For a chance to see Liverpool FC play?…anytime. It will be an all expenses paid trip…transport, accommodation and even meals will be covered by Carlsberg Malaysia.

However, there is a catch. It’s going to be a super rush trip…and super rush I mean that I’ll only be in Singapore for slightly more than 24 hours. I’ll be leaving on Sunday morning, and reaching SG by noon. The match is on the same night, so we’ll be staying over for a night before departing back home the next morning. Will be pretty tiring I guess…but hey..at least I get to see Liverpool play! YNWA!

It will be a memorable week for Liverpool fans around the world. After demolishing Real Madrid 4-0 in the Champions League at mid-week, Liverpool then went on to shut Man Utd fans up by humiliating them 4-1 in their own backyard at Old Trafford. Eight goals in two games against the Spanish and English champions is a remarkable achievement no matter what anyone says. It just goes to show, anything can happen in football, and that nothing is absolutely certain until the final whistle.

Sure Man Utd are still top of the Premier League table, but this game really brought them down to earth in the most humiliating way possible and made them realized that they haven’t won it yet. For a Liverpool fan like me, sometimes it’s not so much about titles, but more about pride, and beating them TWICE this season always seem sweeter as it will shut the arrogance off Man Utd fans are known for (at least temporarily). You won’t believe how many Chelsea, Arsenal and non Man Utd fans congratulated me after the game. Haha!

Thanks Liverpool for capping off a great week. “You’ll Never Walk Alone”..indeed!

Picture source from Sky Sports UK

Euro 2008 is here! Football fanatics (like me) once again will arrive to the office with eyebags and lack of sleep. I’m rooting for Portugal as I did in the previous World Cup. They’re one of the favourites to win the tournament…but then again…it’s always a toss-up between Germany and Italy isn’t it?

In commemoration with Euro 2008, I did an interview for my company’s blog. Click here to read my interview. Ok, I’m off to see Croatia vs. Austria now….