New Reds co-owner Tom Werner revealed on Friday that he would be keen for the club to play a regular-season match abroad. The American's comments raised the spectre of 'the 39th game', the concept of an additional international round of matches floated by the Premier League two and a half years ago. That idea was shelved indefinitely after meeting massive opposition from clubs, fans and FIFA. And a Premier League spokesman said on Saturday that Liverpool and another top-flight club could not unilaterally stage a match outside of England. Werner had told BBC Sport: "Pre-season matches are great but why not have an actual match in season? "I think first of all the Premier League is the strongest league in the world and its reach is global. "It's been very impressive to me, the number of people globally who watch, and we hope to expand that imprint. "I think the more important the game, the more excitement." Many Premier League clubs organise money-spinning overseas pre-season tours in territories where English football is popular, such as Asia and the United States. Playing a competitive fixture could be even more lucrative and it was this which arguably led to the idea being mooted in the first place. The Premier League also confirmed today there were no current plans to revive the proposal.
