Malaysia concede six but Rajagobal warns Singapore (Liverpool Asian Tour: Malaysia vs Liverpool [3-6])

Source

KUALA LUMPUR - Six goals "gifted", two after the end of regulation time, and 13 substitutions in total to keep players fresh for their next competitive fixture just seven days away.

While it hardly sounds like a good final outing before the highly-anticipated first leg second round FIFA World Cup qualifier against Singapore on Saturday, Malaysia's 6-3 loss to English giants Liverpool here at the Bukit Jalil Stadium last night appeared to be exactly what the doctor ordered for K Rajagobal's charges.

The Malaysian coach was all smiles after the match.

"It is the right time to see that the spark, the urgency and the confidence is there," he said.

As far as the Malaysian coach is concerned, the Tigers are ready for their battle with their arch-rivals - the away leg against the Lions at Jalan Besar Stadium on July 23, with the return match here five days later.

Malaysia blew hot and cold in their 2-1 first round World Cup qualifying win against Taiwan, were abysmal in the 3-2 defeat away in Taipei, and disappointing in the 4-0 loss to Arsenal on Wednesday.

Rajagobal admitted the reigning ASEAN champions have not been the same team since the AFF Suzuki Cup win last year but he said: "(Now) we should be able to play our normal game."

Forward Safee Sali bagged a brace last night, scoring past Liverpool goalkeeper Martin Hansen in the 79th and 80th minute in a sparkling return to form that will worry Singapore, although he was missing his regular strike-partner Norshahrul Idlan, who is struggling to recover from a hamstring injury.

Even more encouraging for Malaysia were the 80,000 fans that thronged Bukit Jalil.

They came in red, with the liverbird on their chest, but it was clear which team they held in their hearts.

The stadium roared at every decent Tigers move and exploded after every Malaysian goal.

It will be an absolute cauldron when Radojko Avramovic and his Lions visit on July 28, and after this game, Malaysia look ready.

Said Rajagobal: "I have a good idea of who'll play against Singapore ... I will make the right choices." Shamir Osman