Wrexham v Liverpool Friendly Announced

Champions League holders Liverpool will prepare for their 1st round second tie with Welsh Premier champions TNS by playing Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground - the venue for the second leg of the tie - believed to be on Saturday July 9, just four days ahead of the first leg clash with TNS at Anfield.

Denis Smith's Wrexham will only return to pre-season training on July 4 however, Smith jumped at the chance of welcoming Rafa Benitez and his European champions to the Racecourse.

Smith beamed: "It's a fabulous game and they don't come much bigger than the European champions, do they?"

"I'm not too concerned that my players will have been back for only five days before the game because I'm expecting them to return fairly fit in any event. We'll be able to use the match as a training exercise - which is how Liverpool will regard it as well I should think.

"We finished last season later than a lot of other clubs, which was one of the reasons we are starting back three days later then normal, but I don't have any qualms about taking the game."

The Wrexham friendly will be Liverpool's first outing since coming back from 3-0 down at half-time to lift their fifth European Cup in May against AC Milan in Istanbul, and Wrexham will be set for a huge cash windfall from the game which is sure to attract many visitors to north Wales.