Liverpool and Manchester United in talks to play two pre-season friendlies this summer

Liverpool and Manchester United are in talks to play two pre-season friendlies at Old Trafford and Anfield this summer.

The Premier League rivals are negotiating the options of facing each other at Manchester United’s home in July and then on Merseyside a month later.

The plan is for fans to be welcomed back to both sporting arenas as part of the process of bringing supporters back into stadiums ahead of the new season with all coronavirus restrictions set to be lifted on June 21.  

Liverpool are not planning to play any friendlies abroad this summer but will travel to Austria and France for pre-season training camps. 

Jurgen Klopp’s side trained in Saalfelden, Austria, last August after being forced to abandon their plans to hold a pre-season training camp in Evian, France due to Covid-19. 

But the Reds are expected to return to Evian this summer as they gear up for the new campaign.  

The Premier League clubs are negotiating plans to play at United’s home Old Trafford in July

Premier League clubs usually embark on pre-season overseas tours but they are effectively off the table due to coronavirus.

Sportsmail exclusively revealed earlier this month that Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo was due to hold talks with the League Managers Association to express his concerns about top-flight clubs’ pre-season preparations. 

The Wolves manager wanted more collaboration among clubs to ensure next season runs as smoothly as possible. 

They are also looking to warm-up for the new season by playing each other at Anfield in August

After days of silence, John Henry has issued an apology for Liverpool’s Super League debacle

United joint chairmen Joel Glazer (right) and Avram Glazer (left) are yet to front up to fans

‘As managers, maybe we can find an understanding that we can be close to each other in terms of preparation games,’ he said.

‘A meeting inside the LMA will be enough to consider the options.

‘We should make decisions together. If we have four Premier League clubs close to each other, we can prepare together as we will all be in the UK.’

Liverpool and Manchester United sparked outrage among their fan bases this week when their owners agreed to join a controversial European Super League.

The pair, alongside fellow Big Six clubs Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham were part of 12 founding members of the breakaway tournament. 

But on Tuesday night the Super League was suspended after all six English clubs withdrew following huge backlash from supporters. 

Liverpool owner John W Henry apologised to their fans, Jurgen Klopp and the players on Wednesday morning. 

Meanwhile former United defender Gary Neville slammed United’s three-line statement on quitting the European Super League, with no apology and no admission of fault leaving fans still furious at their club.