Liquid Football is back on the pitch in 2024, kicking off the season with two crucial pre-season friendlies against Detroit Badgers FC and Lansing City Football. These matches are warm-ups and test our team's readiness and strategy.
First, Liquid Football will face off against Lansing City in their third year of playing in USL 2, one division above Liquid Football in the US soccer pyramid. Initially, they were a futsal team. It included youth and pro teams. The pro team plays in the Futsal Champions Series. In 2021, they expanded to an outdoor team and into USL 2. Last season, Lansing City went 4-9-1 and finished second to last in the Great Lakes Division of USL 2. The friendly will be at Spring Arbor University at 7:50 p.m. on Thursday, May 2.
Liquid’s second preseason friendly is against Detroit Badgers FC. Badgers FC’s men’s first team plays in the Open division of the Michigan Premier Soccer League, the second division of a league one below Liquid Football in the US Soccer pyramid. The Badgers were founded in 2023 and have youth teams for boys and girls associated with the club. Last season, they finished in the top three in the MPSL and reached the Abraham Carva Cup semi-finals, where they lost to Team Jamaica. The game will be at Liquid Football’s new home field, Gabriel Richard High School in Riverview, Michigan, on Friday, May 3 at 9 p.m.
Last season, Liquid Football demonstrated its strength, finishing second in the Midwest Premier League and going unbeaten in the last nine games with a record of 8-2-2. This impressive performance sets a high bar for the upcoming season. They have many returning players and staff, including George Chomakov, Waseem and Wisam Muthana, Esmail Haidan, Ryan Messick, Dylan Wismont, and many others.
Liquid has added many new players this season, hoping to fill the hole left by Bosh and Beni Tanyi, who went to play overseas. Bosh plays in the Serbian first division for NK Aluminij Kidricevo, while Beni plays for NK Brezice 1919 in the Slovenian third division.
Javi Bautista will return as head coach this season. His long resume and wealth of experience as a player and coach will be key to guiding the team to contend for the title in its second year in the league.
Liquid will again play in the MWPL's Great Lakes East conference. In the offseason, multiple clubs left the league's Great Lakes region, so there was some conference realignment. The East will now be an even more competitive title race and should be an exciting season.
Liquid Football is named after a free-flowing, team-oriented style of play. Its motto is “#playerbuilt,” which outlines its core value of providing the best experience possible for all its players. Liquid Football is player-focused, with the on-field product taking the front seat.
Liquid’s first regular-season game is Sunday, May 13, at Thundercats. Their first home game is Sunday, June 2, at 5 p.m. against Futsal Factory. Season ticket packages and single-game tickets will be available soon.