Liverpool and Chelsea Planning 2012 Summer Preseason Friendlies In US, Says Report

Liverpool and Chelsea are both planning summer tours to the United States to compete in preseason friendlies, which may include Liverpool playing AS Roma at Boston Red Sox’s Fenway Park baseball stadium, says The Boston Globe.

The newspaper reports that in addition to Liverpool possibly playing Roma at Fenway Park, that other preseason friendlies which may include Liverpool and/or Chelsea playing in Chicago (at either Comiskey Park or Wrigley Field) and at Yankee Stadium in New York. Toronto has also been rumored as a consideration.

Dates have not been set, according to the newspaper, but Liverpool has made reservations, in preparation for the tour, in the Boston area from June 20 through July 4.

Seeing Liverpool and Chelsea playing friendlies this summer in the United States will be a welcoming sign of the Premier League’s continued growth in the country as well as the economic boost that the English clubs receive after playing in front of sold-out crowds. However, don’t expect a lengthy tour by either Liverpool or Chelsea due to Euro 2012 (June 8 to July 1) and the Summer Olympic Games (July 27 to August 12).

With Liverpool owned by Fenway Sports Group, this undoubtedly was a major factor in seeing Liverpool return to the United States on tour. The last time Liverpool played in North America was in 2004 as part of the Champions Tour when they played Celtic and AS Roma. The last time Chelsea played in North America was the summer of 2009 when they completed a successful tour as part of the World Football Challenge.

The tour is expected to be announced shortly. But which cities would you like to see Chelsea and Liverpool play in?