Liverpool are to begin their pre-season tour, landing in Chicago at the beginning of the week and arriving into ‘unhealthy’ air from wildfires.
Liverpool’s pre-season kicks off with a game against Sunderland in Nashville on Saturday, but before that, they will head to Chicago where they will be primarily based.
However, they could be faced with air quality issues when they come to train, due to smoke from Canadian wildfires severely impacting the Chicago environment in recent days.
The heavy smoke, blowing south from across the border, has darkened the skies and caused breathing problems over the last 72 hours.
Those living in Chicago have been urged to stay inside or wear masks due to a lingering high-pressure system that has trapped the smoke close to the ground.
Chicago Fire’s MLS match against Vancouver Whitecaps, which should have taken place at Soldier Field where Liverpool play Leeds on August 2, was postponed on Thursday.
Thankfully, by the time Liverpool come to train, likely on Tuesday or Wednesday, conditions may have eased, but the current problems have been enough to call off several outdoor events.
Forecasters are saying that the wind should change direction on Monday, helping the air quality in the city, though the USA’s National Weather Service extended the air quality alert until Monday for parts of nearby northwest Indiana.
Liverpool’s pre-seaon tour plans
CHICAGO, USA - Saturday, July 26, 2014: Liverpool players during a preseason training session at the Soldier Field Stadium in Chicago on day six of the club's USA Tour. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
With Andoni Iraola to give a press conference on Tuesday afternoon (CST), we can assume that Liverpool will fly on Monday and probably begin training on Tuesday.
They will then make the approximate 100-minute flight south from Chicago to Nashville, where they will face Sunderland at Geodis Park.
A game at Yankee Stadium, against Wrexham in New York, follows on Thursday, ahead of a friendly clash with Leeds back in Chicago on August 2.
After a three-week holiday following their World Cup exits, several of Liverpool’s first team are to join up with the squad on the tour.
Florian Wirtz is due back around July 21, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak on July 22 and Alisson on July 27.
Victor Munoz and Alexis Mac Allister are involved in Sunday’s World Cup final so they will miss the full pre-season tour, but they could still feature in the last Anfield friendly before the Reds kick off against Newcastle on August 23.