Tranmere announce pre-season friendly with Liverpool

Jun 25 2008 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

TRANMERE will host five times European Cup winners Liverpool in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, July 12 (kick-off 3pm).

It is the first time Rovers have faced Liverpool since the sides met at Prenton Park in an FA Cup Quarter Final tie in 2001, the same season Tranmere defeated Everton 3-0, while the last friendly between Liverpool and Tranmere took place in July 1993.

Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool squad will play at Prenton Park a day before flying out to a pre-season training camp in Switzerland.

Tranmere manager Ronnie Moore said: “This is a mouth-watering opportunity for our players to test themselves against some world class opposition who have played at the very top level.

“It’s a game I know both sets of supporters will look forward to and I’m sure there will be a bumper crowd.

“There are plenty of Tranmere fans who will want to see their team take on some of the best players in the world and Wirral based Liverpool fans who have the opportunity to see their team in action playing a local club.

“Hopefully it will be a game everybody will enjoy. We are grateful to Liverpool for agreeing to play us and look forward to welcoming them to Prenton Park. It should be a fantastic occasion and it is a great way to start our pre-season campaign.

“Rafa has done a fantastic job at Liverpool and has proved he’s one of the top managers in the world. Not many managers have won the Champions League and it will be a pleasure to put my side up against his.

“It’s earlier than usual for us to be playing a friendly at home but we wanted to fit in with Liverpool’s schedule ahead of their trip to Switzerland.

The Liverpool game is the first of three home pre-season friendlies Tranmere will play. They also host Bolton Wanderers on July 29 and Blackpool on August 2. Full details of ticket prices to be announced next week on tranmererovers.co.uk