Liverpool to play Melbourne Victory at MCG - The Australian

Brendan Rodgers says Liverpool have done A-League homework.

Liverpool's Steven Gerrard will be heading to Australia with the Reds for a match with Melbourne Victory. Source: Getty Images

THE news that Australian fans of famous English club Liverpool have been waiting for is out - the Victorian government is set to confirm the Reds will play in Melbourne in July.

As had been mooted in January, Liverpool will make its first visit to the country and play against high-profile A-League side Melbourne Victory at the MCG on July 24 in a match expected to draw more than 90,000 spectators.

The Australian understands the government will announce this week that the match will be played four days after Manchester United takes on an A-League All Stars team at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.

Under the terms of the deal, which is believed to cost Victoria $2 million, Liverpool will bring a full-strength squad, including club legend Steve Gerrard and star striker Luis Suarez, as part of its preparation for next season's English Premier League.

The club announced on social media yesterday that it would play a game in Thailand on July 28, which fits in perfectly with its tour arrangements.

Under new coach Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool has had an up and down season but Sunday's 2-1 win over Aston Villa kept it in seventh spot and still with a shot of qualifying for Europe next season.

Meanwhile, Central Coast will face a difficult task to keep alive its hopes of qualifying for the knockout stage of the Asian Champions League when it plays cashed-up Chinese side Guizhou Renhe at Bluetongue Stadium tonight.

Yet to win in their opening two games of the campaign following a draw and a loss, the Mariners realise they need all three points at home.

But coach Graham Arnold brought into sharp focus the challenge facing his side tonight.

The Chinese boast a quality squad that includes two Bosnian internationals, Zvjezdan Misimovic and Zlatan Muslimovic, as well as former China and Manchester City defender Sun Jihai.

"There is no doubt they have some wonderful players ... just look at their squad," Arnold said yesterday. "Misimovic, the No 10, is a current Bosnian international. He is a hell of a player.

"Muslimovic also plays for Bosnia and he combines brilliantly with his international and club teammate.

"And don't forget Sun Jihai.

"With players of that calibre it is going to make for a very interesting night."

Born in Germany, midfielder Misimovic played three games for Bundesliga giant Bayern Munich from 2002 to 2004 before spells at Bochum (92 games), Nuremberg (28) and Wolfsburg (65). He also played nine games for Galatasaray in the 2010-11 season before going to China via Dynamo Moscow, where he played 44 games.

Misimovic made his debut for Bosnia in 2004 and is the most capped player (72 games) in the nation's history.

Muslimovic, 32, has played most of his football in the lower leagues in Italy for clubs such as Perugia, Ascoli, Padova and Parma. The striker has played 28 games for the national team and scored 12 goals.

Sun Jihai played 130 games with Manchester City was capped 78 times with China.