TOP EPL CLUBS TO INVADE ASIA ANEW

Asian football fans will be in for a big treat as Malaysia and Hong Kong will host the EPL Asian Tour 2011, respectively. First stop will be Kuala Lumpur. EPL powerhouse clubs Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea will play the Malaysian national squad on July 13, 16 and 21, respectively. All games will be played at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium. The tour shifts to Hong Kong as top flight teams Chelsea, Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers along with Hong Kong First Division winners Kitchee will dispute the 2011 Barclay Asia Trophy on July 27 and 30. All matches will be played at the Hong Kong Stadium. Chelsea is gunning for its second Asia Trophy following its victory in the inaugural tourney in 2003. Bolton won it all in 2005, while Portsmouth took the title in 2007. In 2009, the finals was played in Beijing, China. The Tottenham Hotspur defeated Hull City, 3-0 in the title match. Liverpool star Steven Gerrard says he is always excited to play before all the fanatical fans in Asia, according to Malaysia-Kini.

“Whenever we go to Asia, the fans are always amazing. The supporters over there are fanatical about Liverpool and it’s great that we can give so many of them a chance to come and watch the team play.”