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Having alternated between touring the United States and Asia each summer since Fenway Sports Group took charge, it’s hardly a surprise Liverpool would be heading back to Asia for their 2017-18 pre-season tour, and some of the specifics of that tour have now been revealed.
The club are expected to play at least two tour games in China and Hong Kong this summer as part of their pre-season preparations. It will be their first visit to mainland China since 2011, when they played in Guangzhou. Their last visit to Hong Kong was in 2007. Further tour stops are likely.
It is further expected two other Premier League clubs will head to the region along with them in order to participate in the Premier League’s Asia Trophy. Southampton will be one of the other clubs. Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG has also been confirmed. The eventual winner of the Hong Kong league will also take part.
Liverpool are tentatively scheduled to play their Hong Kong game on July 20th before heading to Shanghai on the 22nd for the second match, though the head of Hong Kong’s football association, Mark Sutcliffe, says the details could still change between now and the summer.
“Discussions have taken place between the HKFA and the EPL over the last few months and an agreement in principle has been reached,” Sutcliffe revealed today in an interview with the South China Morning Post.
“Final arrangements can’t be confirmed yet because the EPL is also in discussion with the mainland authorities regarding one of the match days being in China. We understand these discussions are also at an advanced stage and an announcement with final details is expected within the next few weeks.”