|
Liverpool will play on a pitch mostly paid for by U2 when they take on Hertha Berlin at the Olympiastadion next weekend. U2 agreed to pay €90,000 of the total cost, reported by Bild to be €130,000, of replacing the playing surface at the stadium following their concert last week, and a spokesman has told ESPN FC the pitch will be ready for the game that will celebrate both clubs' 125th anniversary. Christoph Meyer, a spokesperson for the Olympiastadion, said: "Nothing will slip out of position. The grass rolls weigh over a ton, and there will be no edges whatsoever. That's common practice." On only his third return to Germany following his departure from Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp will be pleased to walk out on a new pitch on July 29. But in 2012, Hannover midfielder Leon Andreasen tore cruciate ligaments in his right knee when his studs became caught in a surface which had been relaid after a Coldplay gig. Liverpool have already suffered with pitch problems this summer, with torrential rain in Hong Kong forcing them to train indoors on their tour of Asia and there were doubts that Wednesday's Premier League Asia Trophy game against Crystal Palace would even take place. Liverpool take on Leicester City in their second match in Hong Kong on Saturday before returning to Europe for the game against Hertha.
|
