Trio set pre-season plans

20 February 2014 19:32

Manchester City will take on Liverpool at New York's Yankee Stadium this summer as part of the Guinness International Champions Cup.

Manchester United also announced plans to play Serie A pair Roma and Inter Milan in the same tournament, although their plans remain dependent on the potential need to play qualifiers in European competition.

City will also face AC Milan and Olympiacos in Pittsburgh and Minneapolis respectively as part of the eight-team tournament which takes place across the United States.

However, the return to Yankee Stadium - where City beat Chelsea 5-3 in May - stands out as the club prepare for the full launch of their New York City FC Major League Soccer franchise in 2015.

"City have always enjoyed terrific support across the five boroughs having visited the states many times," captain Vincent Kompany told the club's website.

"The passion of our New York fans was clear for all to see when we played at Yankee Stadium last year.

"It was the highlight of our post-season tour and the players are relishing the opportunity to return for the Guinness International Champions Cup."

City will play Liverpool on July 30, three days after their meeting with Milan in Pittsburgh, while they take on Olympiacos in Minneapolis on August 2.

Liverpool will play Olympiacos on July 27 in Chicago and, after facing City, take on Milan in Charlotte, North Carolina on August 2.

United announced fixtures against Roma in Denver on July 26 and Inter in Washington DC on July 29. Real Madrid are also in Group A but no fixture against the Spanish giants was included in Thursday's announcement.

United group managing director Richard Arnold told the club's website: "These two matches against strong opposition will provide David Moyes and his team with valuable preparation for the 2014/15 season.

"The team last played in Washington DC in 2011 and the match against Barcelona was extremely well supported. This will be the team's first visit to Denver and we are excited to meet our fans in this city for the first time.

ends

Source: PA