Updated at 17.11
IT HAS BEEN confirmed that Liverpool will play both Manchester clubs and Borussia Dortmund as part of an upcoming pre-season tour this summer.
The Reds last embarked on a similar stateside trip in 2016 and will return there this July to play three games.
Jurgen Klopp’s side will take on Dortmund on 22 July at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
They will subsequently travel to face newly crowned Premier League champions Man City in the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on 25 July.
The Merseyside club will then end their tour with a match against Man United at Ann Arbor in Michigan Stadium, the second biggest ground in the world with a capacity of over 107,000, on 28 July.
There could, however, be a number of high-profile absentees from all the clubs involved — the World Cup final takes place on 15 July, with managers likely to give certain players an extended summer break as a result of their participation in the tournament.
Champions League semi-finalists Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Roma will be among the other European giants competing in this year’s International Champions Cup.
The 18-team, 27-match pre-season competition kicks off less than a week after the conclusion of the World Cup in Russia. Most matches will be played in the US, but others will be staged in Singapore, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Sweden, Italy and Spain.
“Manchester City has a great following in the United States with a growing and passionate fan base,” Manchester City chief operating officer Omar Berrada said.
“The team is looking forward to meeting and playing in front of thousands of our US fans for what promises to be a fantastic tour.”
City, who secured the Premier League title at the weekend, will also face Borussia Dortmund on 20 July in Chicago and Bayern Munich on 28 July in Miami.
United will face Liverpool in the stadium where a US-record 109,318 fans watched the Red Devils play Real Madrid in 2014.
Once again, we look forward to taking part in the ICC, facing top opposition from different leagues in games which will no doubt be popular with United fans everywhere,” said Manchester United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward of the team’s sixth consecutive US pre-season tour.
“The facilities, venues and fixtures will give the manager and team the ideal preparation for the 2018-19 campaign, whilst also giving our fans in the US the chance to watch their team live.”
United’s fixtures also include non-ICC meetings with Mexico’s Club America in Glendale, Arizona, on 19 July and three days later against the MLS San Jose Earthquakes at Santa Clara, California.
United then meet AC Milan at the Rose Bowl near Los Angeles on 25 July ahead of the Liverpool clash and a 31 July meeting with Real Madrid in Miami.
Barcelona, who won the pre-season competition in the United States last year, have a 28 July date at the Rose Bowl against Tottenham.
They will also face Roma — who last week dumped them out of the Champions League quarter-finals — in suburban Dallas on 31 July before playing AC Milan on 4 August at Santa Clara.
Tottenham conclude their US tour against AC Milan on 31 July in Minneapolis.
“We are excited to be going back to the US this summer,” Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino said.
“These fixtures are against top quality sides and will form an important part of our preparations as we look to arrive in the best possible condition for the start of the 2018-19 season.”
Additional reporting by AFP
JUST IN: The International Champions Cup is bringing together two of the best soccer clubs in the world to Michigan Stadium! @ManUtd and @LFC will face off on July 28!
— Michigan Athletics (@UMichAthletics) April 17, 2018
INFO » https://t.co/4UiOfKcgFA#ICC2018 | #ChampionsMeetHere | #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/CHF8FrXXQ5
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