Luis Garcia urges former club Liverpool to become the first Premier League club to play in India

Luis Garcia: Now plays for Atletico Kolkata

Former Liverpool forward Luis Garcia is urging his old club to take a leap of faith and become the first Premier League club to play a match in India.

Reports emerged last month of Arsenal’s plans for a pre-season friendly in the world’s seventh largest country next year, but Sky sources understand nothing is close to being finalised.

Liverpool will play in Australia next pre-season for the second year in succession and are thought to be considering a number of options for a friendly game on their way back.

And Garcia, who has just clinched the inaugural Indian Super League (ISL) title with Atletico Kolkata, hopes the Reds elect to play that match in India.

“I think it would be very good for Liverpool to play in India,” Garcia told Sky Sports.

“The players already know that across Asia there is a big family of Reds but I would love to see them play in India.

It would be very nice for the team to actually come out so that they can see and feel how much the people care. Luis Garcia

“We have already seen Ian Rush and other players make an appearance but it would be very nice for the team to actually come out so that they can see and feel how much the people care.”

Liverpool’s all-time leading goalscorer Rush has been working as a summariser during the latter stages of the ISL and is acutely aware of the support for the club on the sub-continent.

“We’ve got loads of supporters in India,” he said. “I’ve visited the supporters’ clubs and they are fantastic.

“They love their football in India. They really get behind the team and they sing all the way throughout the game.

“Football is going from strength-to-strength in India and if everything was right I’d love to see the club play in India.”

Branch secretary of the official Liverpool Mumbai Supporters Club, Neil Chheda, echoed Rush’s views about the passion for the club in India.

“Liverpool is a family club and we sing throughout the 90 minutes even if we are losing,” he said.

“We are as loud as anyone. Liverpool fans are known for their passion and it is the same here in India as well.”