Three PL sides hope to appear alongside Liverpool at Asia Trophy

Zach Holland
Danny Drinkwater: Tipped for England call-up

Danny Drinkwater: Tipped for England call-up

Liverpool could face former Premier League champions Leicester along with either Crystal Palace or West Brom in the club’s pre-season tour of Hong Kong.

According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, the Premier League are to confirm the line-up within the next few days, with Leicester, Palace and West Brom looking to increase their profiles in the Far East.

It is also suggested that Chinese Super League team Shanghai SIPG were originally taking part in the pre-season tournament, but have since pulled out, with Crystal Palace set to take the club’s spot.

There were attempts at possibly attracting another top club. However, with Arsenal and Chelsea already booked and both Manchester clubs and Spurs all travelling to the States, it confirms that Liverpool will be the only top-six club in the Asia Trophy this year.

Jurgen Klopp’s side will jet off to Hong Kong in late July to take part in the Asia Trophy and will mark the beginning of their pre-season preparations.

Arsenal remain the last winners of the trophy in 2015, while the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City and Portsmouth have also gone on to win.

The Reds will then come back to face Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin on July 29 before participating in the pre-season tournament, the Audi Cup, in August.

During the Audi Cup they will play two of three teams over August 1 and 2, with both Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and La Liga side Atletico Madrid both confirmed alongside an as of yet unnamed club, thought to be AC Milan.

The Merseyside club will then go onto start a new Premier League campaign on August 12 before taking part in a Champions League play-off first leg on either August 15 or 16.