West Ham approach Arsenal and Crystal Palace to play friendly matches as Premier League players prepare for season restart
West Ham have made approaches to their London rivals with the request to play two friendly matches before the Premier League season resumes.
Clubs were given permission last week to return to full contact training after a June 17 restart was greenlit.
And now the Hammers are hoping to step up their preparations by staging two full friendly games with neighbouring Premier League sides, making contact with Arsenal and Crystal Palace with their request.
West Ham have already played Arsenal twice this season, so will not meet again when the Premier League campaign restarts
Top-flight officials have given permission for clubs to arrange warm-up games now that players are back in ‘normal’ training, although strict rules mean teams are not permitted to travel more than 90 minutes and players must travel alone and not on the usual team bus.
Liverpool players were this week pictured back at Anfield for the first time as Jurgen Klopp split his squad in two to play an 11 vs 11 game at their home ground, complete will full kits.
Liverpool returned to Anfield for the first time since the lockdown on Monday as they played an 11 vs 11 training game, complete with full kits
Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers also confirmed to talkSPORT this week he plans to take his players to the King Power Stadium to take part in matches.
West Ham, though, have sent out word to nearby clubs to see if they want to stage more competitive friendly games before the 2019/20 season resumes.
The Hammers chose Arsenal and Palace as they want to play teams they have already met twice in the campaign already, so will not face the same players in competitive action again when the season gets back under way.
The east London side have nine Premier League games remaining and still have to play nearby rivals Chelsea at home and Tottenham away.
Friendly matches can be played at either the clubs’ stadiums or training grounds.
“If you consider this a preseason, then a few clubs would have had a few friendlies under their belts,” explained David Moyes.
“If it is one thing the clubs are not going to get it’s game practice. So getting the opportunity to do that gives us the chance to do that.
Moyes is keen for his West Ham players to get in some match practice before the season restarts
“All these things are subject to the protocols. We have to have everything right. We can’t ask teams to travel, we are not intending to travel.
“We will abide by the guidelines. We don’t want anything to go wrong in the build up to the start of the Premier League.”
As well as match practice, teams are also keen to get their players used to playing at empty stadiums without fans, with all matches to be played behind closed doors when the season resumes.
And after returning to full training, Moyes says normal daily life is finally starting to feel a little bit like it did before the pandemic.
Brendan Rodgers reveals how Leicester City are preparing for playing without fans
The Hammers boss added: “I think that now because on the pitch we’re back in contact it is very similar. Off the pitch it is completely different.
“We’re not using the facilities, we’re outdoors we’re keeping social distances. We’re making it work. Most of us are finding it OK.
“The hardest part was right at the start when we were training in ones or twos or fours. Now iti is starting to feel a bit more normal.
“Everybody is beginning to fit back into it and it’s going well.”
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