Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp are trying to fit in one more preseason friendly before the 2023–24 Premier League season begins, but Anfield is not available.
Preston North End have requested permission to play their opening match of the season away from Deepdale because Liverpool intend to play a “home” preseason friendly there.
Prior to the start of the new Premier League season on Saturday, August 12, Jurgen Klopp wants to give his players one final practice match on Monday, August 7, in the UK. Two days before the scheduled date of the friendly at Deepdale, Preston’s Championship campaign is expected to begin.
Another possibility is that Preston will receive a home Carabao Cup draw on Tuesday, August 8. It makes sense that they would be reluctant to use their pitch three times in the span of four days.
The Mail reports that Preston have asked for their Championship season’s first game to be an away game as a result. When it comes to their Premier League season, Liverpool already did the same. While construction on the Anfield Road stand is ongoing, the Reds hierarchy wants their team’s opening league game to be away.
The £80 million project is almost finished, but it’s anticipated that more time will be needed to conduct test events to make sure everything is functioning properly. It’s unlikely that those tests will be finished in time for the first game of the league season.
The Reds have a jam-packed preseason schedule ahead of them that will cause them to log significant air miles. Before traveling to Singapore to face Leicester and Bayern Munich, Klopp’s team will play two games in Germany.
This request to use Preston’s stadium was made in an effort to cap off their pre-season work closer to home. Preston and Liverpool work well together, and Preston is anticipated to gain significantly financially from hosting the last friendly before the main event.
Due to the fact that Bill Shankly spent most of his playing career at Preston before becoming a legendary manager at Anfield, the two clubs have a legend in common: Bill Shankly. Preston even named a stand after the Scotsman.
The EFL will almost certainly approve Preston’s request to travel for their inaugural match. In the event that their request is turned down, the club is reportedly also ready to play at home.
Who Liverpool’s opponents will be at Deepdale is currently unknown.
