Toronto FC will play host to Liverpool FC in Liverpool’s first stop on their North American preseason tour.
The English club come to North America for a chance to test what their squad has to offer heading into the start of their preseason. It is also a great chance to build their brand in North America. Liverpool is already one of the most popular soccer teams in the world, and they hope that this preseason tour will boost their popularity in places like Canada and the United States.
Toronto is a great MLS city. They average around 20,000 fans in attendance every game but have had as many as 50,000 crammed into the Rogers Centre (they normally play at BMO Field). In 2004, when Liverpool last played at the Rogers Centre, there were over 30,000 in attendance.
Toronto is not having the season that they desired; they are currently last in the Eastern Conference and hold only 16 points, which is the worst in the MLS. If Toronto could keep this match close or even pull the upset, it would provide them with a huge boost of confidence heading into the rest of their season.
Liverpool will use this match in order to gain confidence in their new manager, Brendan Rodgers, who is in the process of implementing his style of play. This will be an excellent opportunity for his squad to get some experience in his style against a much weaker opponent.
Where: Rogers Centre
When: Saturday, July 21, 4:00 p.m. ET
TV: Fox Soccer Channel
Live Stream: Fox Soccer 2 Go
Liverpool’s New Formation
This will be the first opportunity for fans to see Brendan Rogers’ 4-3-3 system that the Reds will use. It is a much more fluent approach to the game than what Liverpool ran under Kenny Dalglish. This will be an excellent learning experience for the Liverpool players who will use this opportunity to get real-life practice in their new 4-3-3 formation.
It will be interesting to see where everyone lines up in Rogers’ formation. With a variety of experience that will be present when the Reds take the pitch, it is surely not going to be a perfect showing. But it is the preseason and a great chance for Liverpool to begin to work out the kinks.
Toronto’s Climb Back
Toronto got off to a horrific start in their 2012 MLS campaign. The club did not win their first game until May 9th, eight games into the season.
In their first four games of July, they have found a way to win two games. With over three months remaining in the season, Toronto has an excellent chance to turn their play around and end the season on a high note.
Liverpool’s First Trip to North America Since 2004
This will be Liverpool’s first trip across the pond since 2004. They played at Rogers Centre, which was then known as the SkyDome, and lost to Porto by a goal. Porto had won the Champions League earlier that year, so the competition this time around will be much different for Liverpool.
Prediction
It will be curious to see how long Liverpool keeps the pressure up. They will surely jump out to an early lead, and with the team still getting comfortable in the new system, they might keep the pressure on Toronto.
Toronto has one of the worst defensive units in the MLS and will be in for a long match on Saturday.
Liverpool wins 5-1.
Toronto vs. Liverpool: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview – Bleacher Report
