Small step on road to recovery

PRESTON V LIVERPOOL DEEPDALE 3pm

- By THEO SQUIRES ECHO Reporter

WHEN ITV first secured the broadcasting rights to show Liverpool's first preseason friendly of the summer away to Preston North End, it was under very different circumstances.

The Reds' first game since the tragic death of Diogo Jota, and his brother Andre Silva will be aired on ITV1 today.

As first reported by the ECHO earlier this week, it is understood that a deal to show the game was agreed in principle before the end of June, before a final agreement was then struck at the start of last week.

As a result, it is stressed that ITV's broadcasting of the match, which now carries far greater meaning and public interest, is sadly an unfortunate coincidence.

When ITV bosses first had the idea to claim the broadcasting rights for Liverpool's first friendly of the summer, they were no doubt thinking something along the lines of: 'It’s the Premier League champions and they've just broken the British transfer record as part of a £200m spending spree'.

Sure enough, look at the TV guide and it still reads: "Preston North End v Liverpool (Kickoff 3.00pm). All the action from the friendly at Deepdale.