Report: Liverpool eye Newcastle rematch during Asia pre-season tour | OneFootball

Liverpool Weigh Up Asia Tour as Newcastle Friendly in Hong Kong Discussed

Strategic Move Towards Asian Market

Liverpool’s 2025 pre-season plans are starting to take shape, and while not yet finalised, talks are well underway for a tour of Asia this summer. According to Craig Hope of The Daily Mail, one proposed fixture includes a rematch with Newcastle United in Hong Kong, following December’s dramatic Carabao Cup tie.

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The Reds’ hierarchy are in the final stages of locking down their travel schedule, with Japan and Hong Kong emerging as front-runners. The reported venue, Kai Tak Sports Park in Kowloon, only opened on 1 March 2025, and will serve as the new home for the Hong Kong national team.

Asia Chosen Over US Return

After travelling to the United States last summer for Arne Slot’s first pre-season, it now appears the club will avoid the Premier League’s 2025 Summer Series in the US. Instead, teams like Everton, Bournemouth, West Ham, and Manchester United will participate.

The decision reflects a shift in Liverpool’s commercial priorities—Asia remains a vast and passionate market, where demand for top-tier English football is as strong as ever. Hosting fixtures against big-name clubs like Newcastle, Tottenham, Arsenal, or AC Milan would only enhance the club’s global reach.

Photo: IMAGO

Slot to Benefit from Full Squad Availability

Unlike last summer, Slot will benefit from the full availability of his players—no major international tournament will delay arrivals. This consistency is vital, especially for a coach still getting to grips with his squad and tactical framework.

Austria, a preferred training base from Slot’s Feyenoord days, is still being considered for a pre-tour camp. But the highlight of pre-season is expected to be the Asian leg, both for fitness preparation and commercial momentum.

Uncertainty Still Surrounds Key Players

The touring schedule may be taking shape, but uncertainties remain regarding the makeup of Slot’s squad. Major questions still linger over the futures of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, and Mohamed Salah—three leaders whose decisions could define the tone of Liverpool’s 2025/26 campaign.

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As pre-season approaches, planning is progressing—but so too are the undercurrents of change.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

Returning to Asia for pre-season is a logical move. Liverpool’s popularity in the region is massive, and giving fans in Japan or Hong Kong the chance to watch the Reds live is long overdue.

But let’s not sugar-coat it—there are still lingering worries. The squad’s future feels uncertain. How do you plan for a tour if three of your biggest stars may not even be part of it? Slot deserves the chance to build continuity, but it’s hard to do that if the foundations are shifting.

That said, playing Newcastle in a “Carabao Cup rematch” in Hong Kong is a compelling idea. High-quality opposition, new stadium, new audience. It ticks every box commercially and offers a competitive fixture for pre-season prep.

If this tour can combine fitness, fan engagement, and clarity on the squad’s future, it could be the perfect platform for another title challenge. But first, the club needs to resolve key contract questions—and fast.