Reds hoping to face Barca

Liverpool are hoping to welcome Barcelona to Anfield for a lucrative pre-season friendly on August 8.

Manager Gerard Houllier is keen to attract one of Europe's best sides to Merseyside as he finalises his preparations for the new campaign - and the Spanish giants have emerged as favourites to take on the Reds at Anfield.

The fixture is still to be confirmed, but if Barcelona turn down the chance to face Houllier's men then Liverpool will be looking for opposition of similar stature to step in.

The Liverpool boss is keen to give any new players who may sign for the club during the summer the chance to experience the Anfield atmosphere before the new season kicks off.

Liverpool's pre-season programme is now taking shape, with a mini-tournament in Amsterdam already confirmed along with a week long trip to China and Hong Kong, which is still on despite the well publicised SARS crisis.