Setting the scene…
Tranmere Rovers return to Prenton Park on Thursday when they welcome UEFA Champions League winners Liverpool to the Wirral for a pre-season friendly, kick-off 7:30pm.
Micky Mellon’s men will host the Reds, who will make the journey across the River Mersey for a fourth consecutive year after spending last week on a training camp up at St Andrews in Scotland.
TRFC will be in the third-tier following their back-to-back Play-Off Final promotion under the Wembley Stadium arch in May, while Liverpool also enjoyed a trophy-winning season – securing a sixth European crown as they beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in June’s Madrid Final.
Jurgen Klopp’s side finished runners-up behind Manchester City in the Premier League and will provide another test for Tranmere as preparations continue for the upcoming Sky Bet League One campaign.
The SWA will be able to see Rovers’ seven new summer signings in action for the first time at Prenton Park, with George Ray, Calum Woods, Kieron Morris, Sid Nelson, Corey Blackett-Taylor, Stefan Payne and Darren Potter all linking up with Mellon’s squad ahead of the 2019/20 term.
One to Watch:
Now back to full fitness after a knee injury kept him out of the majority of Liverpool’s season, England international Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be hoping to be a key part of Klopp’s plans in 2019/20.
Signing from Arsenal in a £35m deal in August 2017, the 25-year-old was sidelined last April which saw him absent until the closing stages of 2018/19.
The Portsmouth-born midfielder began his career in Southampton’s youth system, turning professional at St Mary’s in 2010 to make 36 appearances for the Saints in League One as they earned promotion in May 2011.
August 2011 saw Oxlade-Chamberlain, then aged 17, transfer to Arsenal for £12m, where he went on to turn out 198 times in all competitions over six-years at the Emirates Stadium, winning three FA Cups
Oxlade-Chamberlain moved to Liverpool in August 2017, featuring on 44 occasions in total, scoring five goals prior to his knee injury.
He made two Premier League appearances after returning to action in April and was an unused substitute in Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League Final triumph.
Match Coverage
Unable to make it to TRFC’s pre-season friendly with Liverpool on Thursday night? Don’t worry as you can keep up with goings on at Prenton Park.
You can now sign up to Tranmere Rovers’ iFollow, which allows access to extended highlights and interviews with manager Micky Mellon and a player, after the game.
To sign up, click here
Alternatively, you can follow the action through our social media channels below, with full text coverage during the fixture, followed by a match report.
Twitter: @tranmererovers
Facebook: @trfcofficial
Instagram: @tranmererovers