Jurgen Klopp charms Singapore fans as Liverpool arrive for two friendlies
It is the trademark smile Liverpool supporters in Singapore have watched on their screens and fallen in love with since 2015.
And on Friday afternoon outside the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, they were enthralled in person by Jurgen Klopp, who led the charm offensive and spent almost 15 minutes flashing his pearly whites for selfies and signing autographs for his adoring audience.
Klopp and his squad, who are in town for two pre-season friendly matches in Singapore, arrived at the hotel just after 1.30pm with about 150 fans, in the famous red jerseys and holding posters, screaming and shouting the German manager's name and other favourites like Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah and England international Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Reds were also here last July when they recorded a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in a pre-season friendly in front of 50,217 at the National Stadium.
New signings Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister were also given a grand welcome here as fans belted out "Liverpool, Liverpool" as the players strolled into the hotel and waved at the crowd. Some had gathered behind the barricades outside the hotel while others had stationed themselves in the hotel lobby. There was plenty of jostling inside the media pen area too with photographers trying to get shots of Klopp.
The 19-time English champions will have an open training session at the National Stadium on Saturday before facing Leicester City a day later. They then face Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich next Wednesday.
Dillon Chong, 28, was among the lucky few to get Klopp's autograph on his jersey. He described it as a "dream come true" and said: "No one embodies the club more than Klopp so its such a surreal experience to be able to see him up close and an extra bonus for him to sign my kit. I am over the moon."
Inside the Ritz-Carlton, the 27-player squad - midfielder Fabinho, linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, and injured duo Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic did not travel - spent some time to pose for photographs and sign autographs for invited fans.
One of those was eight-year old Lucian Ker, who took photos with his favourite player Virgil van Dijk and managed to get his kit signed by the squad.
He was close to tears later and said: "I was not expecting him to stop. I was just happy to see him. This is the best moment of my life and it feels so exciting. I can't wait to go to school and show my friends the pictures."