When it was announced that English Premier League team Liverpool would be coming down to our sunny island, Singaporeans found themselves amidst a football frenzy. Fans clamored to catch their favorite stars up close playing a friendly with Singapore’s National Team, as part of their pre-season preparation.

However, with captain Steven Gerrard embroiled in a court case as well as star striker Fernando Torres’ dismal 10 minute appearance during their match against Thailand; it was clearly a worry for fans that forked out more than $100 hoping to see the promised complete lineup of stars.

Nevertheless, many fans had the fortune of heading down to the National Stadium to catch the match and though it was definite that Singapore’s National Team still had great strides to take before reaching the international playing standards of their Liverpool counterparts, it was still truly an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

When the match’s lineup was announced, there was no doubt disappointment that Gerrard would not be able to make an appearance that evening, but whoops of joy and cheers still filled the stadium during the commentators’ welcoming of the other players. Cries of excitement filled the stadium when the likes of Torres, Xabi and Kuyt entering the playing field. Everyone rose in excitement as the Reds quickly scored goal after goal, impressively and decisively defeating the Singapore team.

Other highlights of the match include Torres playing for 30 minutes; double his expected playing time of 15 minutes, with him scoring one for his team. Xabi Alonso was also sent in to satisfy those worried for his pending transfer to Real Madrid.

On an overall whole, it seemed as though the England bigwigs were doing their part to make this experience a memorable one, putting up a strong fight that evening and making countless appearances throughout the island during their short stay here. As such, I am sure that many die- hard supporters of the Reds found that every penny they spent on the game was money well spent, considering the priceless memories they had gained.

Written by Thomas and Lynette