English giants Liverpool will play fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace for the inaugural Standard Chartered Singapore Trophy in a preseason clash on July 15 at the National Stadium. Liverpool, who have already won this season’s League Cup and are fighting for silverware on another three fronts, will also stage an open training session at the National Stadium on July 14. “Preseason is a vital time of year for our players, it’s hugely important preparation for the season ahead and it’s also a perfect opportunity to meet with our fans around the world,” said Ben Latty, the commercial director of Liverpool, who are sponsored by Standard Chartered. “We can’t wait to get back to Singapore once again – we’ve received a tremendous welcome there in the past, and are excited to be taking part in the Standard Chartered Singapore Trophy 2022. “We eagerly await the sound of our fans filling the National Stadium in Singapore as we take on Crystal Palace in July. It’s going to be a great finish to our 2022/23 preseason.” Klopp’s side sit second in the Premier League, one point behind defending champions Manchester City, while they face Villarreal in the Champions League semi-finals this week and Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 14. The 19-time English league champions last came to Asia in 2017, when they won the Premier League Asia Trophy at Hong Kong Stadium. “I’m very privileged to be an ambassador to the club so that I can still be involved, which is a great experience for me,” former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer said. “But the tour is very, very special because the team all comes together. We travel with the first team, we all stay in the same hotel and we all do different activities, and it’s amazing to meet different people and do different things. “Covid has affected a lot of people around the world in all different societies, jobs and industries. We know how difficult it’s been for everybody around the world. Now the doors are open, things are easing off and it’s fantastic to get the opportunity because we’ve missed two years. “The last tour was America, just before Covid, which was fantastic. Now, we get the opportunity two years later to come back to Asia, just to reach out to the fans as well. “We know we have a massive fan base in this part of the world and to touch base with them again is fantastic, so I’m really looking forward to July.” The friendly game will mark Palace’s first match in Singapore, though the Eagles have played in Asia before, losing 2-0 to Liverpool in Hong Kong in 2017, before beating West Brom by the same scoreline to finish third in the preseason tournament. Patrick Vieira’s Palace side sit in 14th place in the league this season, having reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup. “The entire club and team led by Patrick Vieira are thrilled to begin our preseason tour at the incredible Singapore National Stadium against such high-calibre opponents as Liverpool,” Palace chairman Steve Parish said. “We know Singapore is full of passionate fans who follow the Premier League from afar and we hope to attract many more supporters to Crystal Palace by the end of our trip. “We look forward to seeing you all in July alongside our committed and passionate travelling supporters, for what will be an important start to our preseason programme.”