Liverpool fans fume over chairman Tom Werner’s support for Premier League games to be played in New York – despite plans to pay for travelling fans

Liverpool fan groups have reacted with fury after chairman Tom Werner said he wants to see Premier League games played in New York City – and envisaged a day where English matches are played across the world with staggered kick-offs to fit global time zones.

In last year’s Premier League, 10 of 20 teams were at least part-owned by American firms, which would have been more if not for Everton’s doomed takeover by Miami-based 777 Partners. It has long been a desire to play English matches overseas.

And Liverpool chairman Werner has now publicly thrown his weight behind the movement. 

‘I’m determined one day to have a Premier League game be played in New York City,’ he told the Financial Times. 

‘I even have the sort of crazy idea that there would be a day where we play one game in Tokyo, one game a few hours later in Los Angeles, one game a few hours later in Rio, one game a few hours later in Riyadh and make it sort of a day where the Premier League is celebrated.’

Werner would be in favour of seeing matches played overseas and in different continents 

In the same interview, principal owner John W Henry said it was ‘not something I advocate or am particularly interested in’ but Werner doubled down and said he would explore putting on subsidised flights and hotels for fans travelling overseas.

The comments led to outrage among Liverpool supporters. 

One fan group, Spion Kop 1907, replied to Mail Sport’s X post about this to say: ‘One percent price increases one season, one game in New York the next. This is why we protest. WE FIGHT THE FIGHT FOR LIVERPOOL.’

Another fan, Colin Spreag, wrote: ‘Liverpool’s owners have – overall – been brilliant for the club. But they just can’t seem to go 12 months without putting their foot in it. From ticket prices, to Super League, to games abroad, they just can’t help but try and push the capitalist boundaries.’