Liverpool want to stage a ‘home’ friendly at Deepdale due to construction work at Anfield

Liverpool are planning to host a ‘home’ pre-season friendly at Preston North End – with the Deepdale club then seeking permission to play their first game of the season.

Mail Sport has learned that Jurgen Klopp’s side have made a tune-up for Monday, August 7, ahead of the start of the top flight campaign on the following Saturday, August 12.

However, the Championship season will start two days before the scheduled friendly against unknown opposition. And Preston, wary that they could be drawn in the Carabao Cup at home on Tuesday, have made the request to avoid the prospect of three games in four days on their pitch.

Liverpool have already asked to play their first Premier League game of the season away from home thanks to work to increase capacity at Anfield, which will run this summer.

The clubs have a strong relationship and North End, who will benefit financially from the match at their 23,000 capacity home, have a stand named after Bill Shankly, who spent the vast majority of his playing career with them before joining Liverpool led an era. – defining success.

A request has been made to allow Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool to play a friendly at the stadium

Liverpool unable to hold friendly at Anfield due to construction work (pictured in October)

They are believed to have no problem playing first out and are willing to stay home if instructed – although that prospect is highly unlikely. Clubs are being asked if they want to avoid certain dates ahead of the release of the games scheduled for June.

However, the arrangement could well underline the huge gap between the resources available to those in the top flight and those in the second tier.

While it is believed that both Preston and Liverpool are happy with the situation, some may see the fact that a Championship team – the first side to win the double and go through a top-flight season unbeaten – has requested that a league game be played out. to play. to essentially meet a top level friendly as a surprising indictment of where the game is in this country.

In 2022, Preston posted a loss of more than £16m – an increase of £1.4m on the previous year.

Liverpool previously asked to start their league campaign on the road thanks to work to complete the redevelopment of the Anfield Road stand. Work on the £80 million project, which will include an additional 7,000 seats, is nearing completion. However, additional time will likely be required to perform the necessary test events.

Liverpool will play two games in Germany at a pre-season camp before heading to Singapore to take part in two pre-season games against Leicester City and Bayern Munich, but want a game close to home.

Their opponents for Deepdale are not final yet, but are likely to be from overseas. Another luminaire can be arranged.