ROVERS V REDS SHOWCASE (From Wirral Globe)

ROVERS V REDS SHOWCASE

4:35pm Tuesday 24th June 2008

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TRANMERE Rovers will host five-times European Cup winners Liverpool in a blockbusting pre-season friendly.

The match, which comes halfway through Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture, will showcase two Merseyside teams in what is set to be a great day for local football.

It is the first time Rovers has 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. The last friendly between Liverpool and Tranmere took place in July 1993.

Rafa Benitez's Premier League side boasts a squad packed full of international stars, including Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Jamie Carragher, Javier Mascherano, Pepe Reina, Daniel Agger and Dirk Kuyt. This summer they completed the signing of Swiss international defender Philipp Degen from Borussia Dortmund.

Liverpool's first team squad will play at Prenton Park a day before flying out to a pre-season training camp in Switzerland.

Tranmere Manager Ronnie Moore, looking forward to the match on Saturday, July 12, 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.

Full details of ticket prices will be announced on www.tranmererovers.co.uk later this week.

The Liverpool game, which kicks off at 3pm, is the first of three home pre-season friendlies Tranmere will play.

They also host Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday, July 29, at 7.45pm, and Blackpool on Saturday, August 2, at 3pm.

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