Reds Invasion of Pittsburgh Has Begun: Liverpool FC not walking alone in the Steel City

Photo courtesy Liverpool FC

To start their visit stateside, and ahead of Friday’s match vs Real Betis (Acrisure Stadium, 7:30 p.m. kickoff), one of English Premier League’s most renowned clubs, Liverpool FC are already in Pittsburgh, having arrived Tuesday, as they’re keeping a busy schedule between training and getting out in the community.

Liverpool ✈️ Pittsburgh 🏙️ pic.twitter.com/8xmr3bjgDv

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 24, 2024

Touchdown in Pittsburgh 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/RjjCXAceXy

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 23, 2024

The team’s activities on Wednesday included a visit to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, where the contingent included Mighty Red (LFC’s mascot) along with four Liverpool greats and numerous other team members visit the children, alongside Pittsburgh Penguins mascot Iceburgh, on the second day of the club’s USA pre-season tour.

Club ambassadors Ian Rush and John Barnes and former players Gary McAllister and Sami Hyypia were all in attendance at the first of many LFC Foundation events during this summer’s visit.

“It is a privilege for us to visit the children’s hospital here in Pittsburgh and hopefully we have been able to give them a memorable morning at a time that can be so challenging for the young people and their families,” Matt Parish, chief executive of LFC Foundation, said.

“It’s always a pleasure for us to be part of these pre-season trips to engage with new communities and visits like this are just one part of that, particularly here in the US, where we are already delivering programmes to young people all year round and we look forward to expanding that work more in the future.”

Then they headed over to Highmark Stadium, to take part in clinics with Riverhounds Academy.

For the next few days, they will be training at UPMC Sports Performance Complex on the South Side.  The Reds will also be hosting a press conference at the South Side complex on Thursday.

Local mainstream media have captured some of the excitement from some folks in the Pittsburgh area who bleed Liverpool red, including a profile in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on some fans and establishments who have waited for a very long time for their favorite EPL side to make their way to the Steel City.

WXDX-FM radio personality, Mark Madden, who has had PSN’s John Krysinsky on his show as a guest numerous times, is a massive Liverpool FC supporter, and penned this column in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Wednesday.

Mark Madden: Pittsburgh believes that the greatest football team in the world plays at Acrisure Stadium.

Friday night, for the first time, that actually happens.https://t.co/iRxyGffY3a

— Tribune-Review Sports (@TribSports) July 24, 2024

Here’s a look at the Reds’ traveling squad.

On Monday, PSN’s John Krysinsky had a bit more on the history of friendlies between European clubs in Pittsburgh, and went into a bit more detail about each team.

Treat for Pittsburgh Soccer Fans: Liverpool vs Real Betis friendly will be fourth match between European clubs at Acrisure Stadium since 2004

Look for more coverage to come this week, as Pittsburgh Soccer Now will unleash full team coverage, as features, previews and match reports will be forthcoming from Colton Coreschi, Mark ‘Soccer Rabbi’ Goodman, along with our photographers Ed Thompson and Jared Todhunter.   Each club will be hosting pre-match press conferences and both sides have various activities and visits in and around the City of Pittsburgh. Colton will also be conducting exclusive interviews with team alumni including club legend Sami Hyypia and women’s ambassador Tash Dowie.  Look for those to post sometime Thursday or early Friday.  Liverpool have also partnered with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, for youth clinics.