Pre-season plans: Where are the Prem’s big dogs playing?

The World Cup is in full swing but it won’t be long before everyone is gearing up for the new Premier League campaign.

Pre-season is a chance to get everyone fit and firing. But, in the modern era, it’s also a global marketing exercise. And top-flight clubs have tended to head for Asia or America to spread their brand.

The Ladbrokes News crew concentrate on the Prem’s big six and where they’re off to this summer.

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola and his squad return to the USA to compete in the International Champions Cup alongside a host of European giants.

The Premier League champions will face Borussia Dortmund in Chicago on July 20th. That’s followed up with an all-England clash with Liverpool in New York on July 25th.

The Citizens then finish off their US tour with a game against Guardiola’s old team Bayern Munich. That will take place in Miami – welcome to Miami – on July 28th.

Manchester United

United also head to America but their tour is a bit more extensive than City’s. The Red Devils open up with a friendly against Club America in Arizona on July 20th.

San Jose Earthquakes are next up in Santa Clara on July 22nd. Then it’s AC Milan at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on July 25th.

A mouth-watering, money-making clash with Liverpool follows that in Ann Arbor on July 28th. The tour finishes up with a clash against Read Madrid on July 30th in Miami.

It’s off to Bavaria for a final game against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on August 5th. Flat to the mat.

Liverpool

If you thought United were busy, Liverpool are taking it to another level. There’s a host of friendlies lined up.

Jurgen Klopp’s side will face domestic games in July against Chester City, Tranmere Rovers, Bury, and Blackburn Rovers.

The Anfield outfit also take part in the International Champions Cup against Borussia Dortmund, Man City, and Man United. Those games take place on July 22nd, 26th, and 28th, respectively.

The Merseyside club then head for Dublin to take on Napoli at the Aviva on August 4th. And that’s followed up by a clash with Torino at Anfield on August 7th.

Tottenham Hotspur

There’s a trend emerging here as Spurs also head for the States. Mauricio Pochettino’s side are lined up for big games against Roma in San Diego on July 25th.

The White Hart Lane outfit then take on Barcelona in the Rose Bowl on July 28th. And that’s followed up with a clash against AC Milan in Minneapolis on July 31st.

Chelsea

Chelsea have tended to head West in pre-season. But this summer is different as the Blues venture east for games in Australia, France, and Ireland.

First up, it’s a flight to Perth to take on Glory on July 23rd at the Optus Stadium. Then it’s back to Europe for a game against Nice at the Allianz Riviera on July 28th.

The West London outfit then head for Dublin to take on city rivals Arsenal in Dublin on August 1st. Man City are next up in the FA Community Shield at Wembley on August 5th.

Then it’s Olympique Lyon at Stamford Bridge on August 7th.

Arsenal

The bad news for Gunners’ fans is that there is no Emirates Cup this summer. The good news is, there’s still a host of top friendlies lined up.

Unai Emery will kick off a new era at Arsenal with a clash with Boreham Wood at Meadow Park on July 14th. Don’t worry, it gets more illustrious than that.

Next up, it’s Atletico Madrid in Singapore on July 26th. Paris Saint-Germain are the opposition – again in Singapore – on July 28th.

It’s off to the Emerald Isle then for a game against Chelsea in Dublin on August 1st. And then Emery gets the chance to go up against his old club Sevilla in Stockholm on August 4th.

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