Liverpool due in Seoul for exhibition match with FC Seoul

FC Seoul, a South Korean professional football club in the K-Leagu, is faced with a scheduling conflict over a proposed summer exhibition match against a popular English team.

Liverpool, an English Premier League club, has proposed a July 19 exhibition contest against FC Seoul, the 2010 K-League champion.

An 18-time English champion and a five-time European champ, Liverpool boasts a star-studded lineup including Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt, Joe Cole and Luis Suarez.

 FC Seoul previously hosted Manchester United in 2007 and 2009, nearly selling out the 66,000-seat Seoul World Cup Stadium in both matches. South Korean midfielder Park Ji-sung plays for the team affectionately called "Man U" by fans here. Liverpool doesn't have a Korean player in its lineup.

 The Seoul club is trying to make some scheduling adjustments in domestic play to accommodate the visitors.

 FC Seoul is set to face Pohang Steelers on July 17 in K-League action in Pohang, about 370 kilometers southeast of Seoul. An exhibition match back home just two days later would leave players too exhausted, team official said.

 FC Seoul would like to face Liverpool on July 20. Quarterfinals of South Korea's FA Cup tournament are scheduled for that day, and FC Seoul has asked the Korea Football Association (KFA) to push back FA Cup contests by a week. (Yonhap News)