Off we go…
Our 6,000-mile journey begins with a step onto a bus at the club’s Chapel Street offices on Sunday afternoon, bound for Manchester Airport.
Rain spatters the windows en route to the terminal amid chat that even more inclement conditions might be awaiting us in Hong Kong. There’s reports of a typhoon in the area and a signal warning of 10 no less, the strongest kind. Still, nothing can dampen – get it?! [sorry] – our spirits as we eagerly look forward to the trip.
The sight of a gaggle of club employees in LFC kit making their way to the gate draws more than a few glances from fellow travellers, and a couple of questions too. “Are you Liverpool reserves?” “Do you work with Mo Salah?”
Uno is a frequent pastime among the Reds players on their travels, and today Jeremie Frimpong and Ryan Gravenberch are duelling with the cards. Dominik Szoboszlai is the referee as Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz watch on, with Frimpong ultimately defeating his compatriot.
Soon enough we’re boarding the charter plane supplied by Japan Airlines, the official airline partner of the Reds’ 2025 tour. Arne Slot and his 29-man squad gather for a group photo on the steps and inside the cabin, captain meets captain – Virgil van Dijk and the man at the helm of the near-13-hour flight ahead of us share greetings.
