'LFC's visit is fantastic for Ireland'

Speaking to LFC TV ahead of Saturday's showdown with Scottish giants Celtic - which you can watch live on LFC TV Online from 5pm BST - the ex-Liverpool defender admits it will be great for the Irish faithful to see Steven Gerrard and co in the flesh when Brendan Rodgers' side take to the field at the Aviva Stadium.

McAteer said: "It's the final pre-season game before the season starts, so you would expect Liverpool to play a strong team. Celtic certainly will and it will be quite competitive as well.

"I'm actually made up that Liverpool are travelling to Ireland as the following they get there is magnificent.

"I appreciate Liverpool have got to travel the world and we have seen them go to Australia, Indonesia and Thailand this summer, and obviously America last year.

"You understand that Liverpool have got to do this as a football club but I think it's important the club keep an eye on the fact they do have fantastic support in Scandinavia and in Ireland.

"I actually did the launch for the FAI and it was a fantastic day, the tickets were sold out within hours. That tells you how big that game is and how much Liverpool and Celtic mean to Irish supporters. 

"It's fantastic that Liverpool are going there and giving their fans a chance to actually see them in the flesh."

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McAteer, who was born in Birkenhead, qualified to play for Ireland through his grandfather and he went on to star in the 1994 World Cup for his country.

Ex-Reds Ronnie Whelan, Ray Houghton and Steve Staunton were among those who inspired his early football career and, therefore, he was thrilled when the chance came to represent his nation at the United States finals.

A year later, a lifelong dream came true when McAteer finally had the opportunity to join his beloved Liverpool in 1995.

He added: "One of the reasons why I started supporting Liverpool was because of these Irish players and when I got the chance to play for Ireland with these players it was like a dream come true.

"Liverpool have always had a great relationship with Ireland and had some of the world's best playing for them."

McAteer revealed his most memorable football highlight while playing for Ireland was when he scored against Holland in a 1-0 victory which put the Irish in line to qualify for the 2002 World Cup.

He recalled: "The Dutch had come to Lansdowne Road. I believe their hotel and plane was already booked [for the finals] and it was a case of how many goals they were going to score against the Irish.

"It was a formality as far as the Dutch were concerned, but we had a fantastic squad, a great manager and we had 11 players on the pitch that pulled together like every Irish team did around that time.

"We rode our luck at times - which you have to do in certain football matches - and I was in the wrong place at the right time and managed to put the ball into the back of the net!"

Besides the anticipated fantastic atmosphere for Saturday's clash in Dublin, McAteer insists playing Celtic is the ideal game for the Reds ahead of the big kick-off against Stoke City on August 17.

He said: "I'm sure the Liverpool players will be very professional as the Celtic players will be because, at the end of the day, the business starts the week after.

"It's the last pre-season game; it's still an eye on fitness and getting that sharpness together. It's the perfect game for Liverpool to do that.

"It's good to keep this relationship going with Celtic because the two sets of fans are close and the clubs are very, very close. They have a great history and a great legacy together.

"This will be great for Irish football. The FAI are putting on the game and it's great for them to do that and fill the stadium."

For more information about our clash versus Celtic, follow @dublindecider. To find out what else is going on in Dublin while Liverpool are over in Ireland, visit www.thegatheringireland.com.