KUALA LUMPUR – Liverpool veterans showed more passion compared to Jurgen Klopp’s star-studded team as they defeated Manchester Reds 4-2 in the Battle of the Reds match at Bukit Jalil National Stadium today.
The exhibition match, which drew approximately 20,000 to 25,000 fans, was kept entertained by the performances of their favourite players from both sides.
Under the leadership of 1998/1999 treble winner Dwight Yorke, Manchester Reds showed dominance in the first half with some good link-up plays between Dimitar Berbatov and Eric Djemba Djemba, which troubled the Liverpool defence.
Danny Webber, who began his career with the Red Devils in 1998 under the tutelage of Sir Alex Ferguson and ended up making a name for himself with Watford FC, came close to giving Manchester Reds the opening goal, forcing David James to make several crucial saves.
However, it was the Liverpool Reds who took the early lead through a deadly counterattack, with the 2005 Champions League-winning duo Luis Garcia and Djibril Cisse combining with a one-touch pass, leading Cisse to calmly slot the ball past Paul Rachubka in the 16th minute.
Liverpool’s lead did not last for more than a minute, as Webber provided a quick cross from the right wing to assist 2010/2011 English Premier League winner Berbatov, who headed the ball home to make the score 1-1.
Webber, who had a total of 15 touches in the opponents’ half, gave Manchester Reds the lead in the dying minutes of the first half with his sprint from the halfway line, easily going past James to score his second goal of the night.
The second half saw a more clinical Liverpool side punishing Manchester Reds for their reckless defending.
The 2005 Champions League winner, Florent Sinama, who started the game as a right-winger, was a tough player to handle, being fouled twice in the penalty box by Manchester Reds’ Quinton Fortune and Wes Brown.
The 42-year-old Djibril Cisse, who made a total of 55 appearances for the Reds, calmly put the ball past Rachubka in the 46th and 56th minutes to complete his hat trick.
Manchester Reds showed several glimpses of hope in the final minutes, with Webber winning a penalty for his side, only for Yorke, who scored 48 goals for the Red Devils during his four-year stint at the club (1998-2002), to shoot the ball to the left side of the goalpost.
Liverpool Reds took the opportunity to quickly transition from defence to attack, with Sinama sealing the victory with a 4-2 win for his side. – April 27,2024