Liverpool have cancelled the final game of their pre-season against Schalke after Thursday’s Premier League fixture list was released.
The Reds previously had scheduled 10 matches before the start of their campaign.
The European champions were due to take on Schalke in the only Anfield friendly of the summer on Tuesday August 6, just three days before Jurgen Klopp’s side raise the curtain on the new season.
Liverpool’s game against Norwich was selected for broadcast by rights holder Sky Sports, leaving just 72 hours between the final friendly and the Reds’ season-opener.
Schalke are managed by Klopp’s close friend David Wagner, and the Bundesliga side were viewed as the ideal team to sign off from a busy schedule that starts against Tranmere on July 11 and includes games in the United States against Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and Sporting Lisbon.
A clash with Serie A side Napoli on July 28 follows before the proposed meeting at home against Wagner’s side.
A short statement on Liverpoolfc.com on Thursday said that sales of tickets were postponed and the club have now confirmed the cancellation.
The club stated: “Liverpool’s planned pre-season friendly against Schalke on Tuesday August 6 has been postponed.
“Following Thursday morning’s announcement of the Premier League fixtures for the 2019-20 season, the Reds will face Norwich City at Anfield in the opening game of the new campaign on Friday August 9.
“The Schalke fixture has therefore been postponed in preparation for the early start to the Premier League season.
“Liverpool and Schalke will work together on setting a rearranged date for the friendly in 2020.”
The game won’t be going ahead however, given how close it is to the start of a Premier League season where the Reds are expected to once more push Manchester City for the title.
Given the Reds’ runners-up spot in last season’s Premier League and their subsequent European Cup triumph, a further two games have been added to the summer schedule.
Liverpool will aim to get the better of champions Manchester City in the Community Shield on August 4 before a game against Chelsea in Istanbul in the European Super Cup 10 days later.
An already jam-packed fixture list is further complicated by Liverpool’s involvement in the World Club Cup in Qatar later that year.
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