lthough the first match of the Hong Kong Football Festival 2025 will only take place on Saturday (July 26), the arrival of reigning Premier League champions Liverpool has already sparked a citywide craze for star sightings. Four of the team's stars, Dominik Szoboszlai, Andy Robertson, Milos Kerkez, and Joe Gomez, attended a football training event yesterday, drawing around twenty fans who braved the rain to wait outside the venue.
During the training, the quartet took on the role of "coaches," personally guiding young players. Some of the aspiring footballers said the players' enthusiasm and dedication exceeded expectations, expressing hopes of emulating them and pursuing a professional football career in the future.
After a night's rest following their arrival in Hong Kong, the Liverpool players were in high spirits. Szoboszlai, in particular, wore a bright smile throughout, while Robertson stayed true to his "joker" persona, playfully teasing Gomez beside him, creating a lighthearted and amusing atmosphere.
The most reserved of the four was new signing Kerkez. The 21-year-old left-back said he was eagerly anticipating the new season. He praised the Premier League as the best league in the world, admitting that it took him some time to adapt to its intensity, but joining Liverpool is still incredibly exciting for him.
Robertson and Gomez have been key figures in Liverpool's recent resurgence. The former advised young local players that success requires maintaining a positive attitude, saying that no matter what happens in one's football journey, they should always look forward, stay positive, and believe in themselves.
After the sharing session, the four stars transformed into "coaches," each leading a Kitchee U14 team in a mini-tournament. Despite the pouring rain, their enthusiasm never waned. While Gomez couldn't resist stepping onto the pitch to demonstrate techniques himself, Szoboszlai and Robertson—who faced off in the final—coached with intense focus, even braving the rain to give close-up instructions. In the end, "Team Szoboszlai" defeated "Team Robertson" in a penalty shootout, winning the friendly rivalry. All participating young players received tickets to Liverpool's open training session, while the victorious "Team Szoboszlai" also secured tickets to the Hong Kong Football Festival 2025.
Inspiring young players to pursue professional dreams
Goalkeeper Fok Yat-on from "Team Szoboszlai" admitted that the Liverpool stars' approachability exceeded his expectations.
"Szoboszlai was so dedicated to coaching us that he didn't even take shelter from the rain—no umbrella, no tent. He stayed on the sidelines giving instructions and encouragement, with no airs of being a superstar. He was far more friendly and passionate than I imagined."
The young goalkeeper said he learned the right attitude toward football from these players: "Even though it was just a training event, they were incredibly serious and full of energy. During the penalty shootout, he (Szoboszlai) kept telling me to stay confident—winning or losing didn't matter as long as I never gave up. Their passion inspired me, and I hope to follow their example to become a professional player one day."
Due to the heavy rain, the four players left immediately after the event without lingering, disappointing some fans who had waited outside for nearly three hours. However, one fan noted that Liverpool's visit had already been remarkably down-to-earth: "They waved to us from the car. I think they might have signed autographs if not for the rain. Seeing how seriously and passionately they coached during the event, the whole Liverpool squad has come across as very friendly and approachable."
Another fan had camped outside the team's hotel in the morning and successfully obtained autographs from Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk. He said he would continue his "star-chasing" in the coming days—not only does he have tickets for the open training session and the match against AC Milan, but he also plans to stake out the hotel daily for more close encounters with the players.
Liverpool legends reunite for foundation event
Meanwhile, Liverpool legends Lucas Leiva, Sami Hyypiä, Jerzy Dudek, and Ian Rush attended a football clinic hosted by the Liverpool Foundation yesterday.
Rewinding to 20 years ago—the 2005 UEFA Champions League final—Liverpool trailed AC Milan 0-3 at halftime. In the second half, goals from Steven Gerrard, Vladimír Šmicer, and Xabi Alonso brought the Reds level at 3-3. With no further goals, the match went to penalties, where Dudek saved Andriy Shevchenko's spot-kick, securing a 6-5 aggregate victory for Liverpool.
Reflecting on the "Miracle of Istanbul," Dudek said the night changed everyone's lives—so much so that he still hasn't dared to rewatch the full match. On Liverpool's upcoming "rematch" against AC Milan at the Kai Tak Sports Park, Dudek said he was eagerly anticipating the clash.
He also mentioned reuniting with fellow legends at Anfield for a charity match years ago and expressed excitement about doing so again in Hong Kong, saying he feels fantastic to reconnect with everyone in Kai Tak.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalist: English Editor: Darius)
Related News:
Deepline | Red storm rising: Liverpool touch down in HK with new signings ahead of AC Milan clash
Deepline | '12th Player' phenomenon: How HK's 'red sea' redefines football fandom
Comment