Amid the unfamiliarity presented by European clubs’ tours of the United States, with teams from around the globe clashing in a slew of exhibitions, Baltimore on Saturday will play host to a more familiar matchup.
English stalwarts Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur, founded in 1892 and 1882, respectively, will meet at M&T Bank Stadium, continuing preseason preparations with less than a month remaining before the Premier League campaign kicks off Aug. 18.
It’s the third match of the tour for Liverpool, which tied Toronto FC 1-1 last weekend before falling to AS Roma 2-1 on Wednesday at Fenway Park in Boston. Tottenham opened its U.S. swing Tuesday with a 1-1 draw against the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Liverpool, which finished eighth in the Premier League last season, boasts a travel roster featuring defender Glen Johnson, midfielders Steven Gerrard, Stuart Downing and Jordan Henderson, and forward Andy Carroll, all of whom competed for England at this summer’s European Championship. The players have yet to see the field for the Reds during the tour but seem poised for playing time Saturday.
Polarizing striker Luis Suarez is absent while competing for Uruguay at the London Olympics.
Tottenham finished fourth last year, falling just short of a UEFA Champions League berth. The club’s travel squad includes American goalkeeper Brad Friedel, Dutch playmaker Rafael Van de Vaart and Welsh winger Gareth Bale, as well as England national team veterans Michael Dawson, Jermaine Jenas and Jermain Defoe.
Croatian maestro Luka Modric, a major target of Real Madrid, declined to report for Tottenham’s tour while his transfer status remains in the air.
The match will be the second high-profile friendly in recent years at M&T Bank Stadium, which drew a sellout crowd of 71,203 in July 2009 for a game between English side Chelsea FC and Italian power AC Milan.
• Thomas Floyd can be reached at tfloyd@washingtontimes.com.
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