Fernando Torres will start the new season in Vienna, a city that brings back plenty of fond memories for the striker. Just over a year ago, the forward struck the only goal of the game as Spain beat Germany 1-0 in the Euro 2008 Final. The striker though did not take part in Liverpool’s match in the Austrian capital as the Merseysiders slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Rapid Vienna at the Ernst Happel Stadium in a pre-season friendly.

The Reds were without five of their Spanish players who all took part in this summer’s Confederations Cup in South Africa. The players will be joining the rest of the members of the Liverpool squad as the club embarks on its Asian tour.

The first of Liverpool’s two games in the Far East takes place on Wednesday 22 as Liverpool face the Thailand national side, kick-off at 14:00 hours (BST), before playing the Singapore national team on Sunday, kick-off at 12:00 hours (BST).

Coach Rafa Benitez will have the final say if Fernando Torres will get his first taste of pre-season action with Liverpool. The striker, who has a strong fan-base in Asia, will no doubt be one of the most sought after players during the Anfield club’s tour.

The rest of the pre-season programme sees Liverpool face Spanish side Espanyol at their new stadium on August 2. The side from Barcelona make the short move from the Montjuic Olympic stadium to Cornella. The Reds next travel to Norway on August 5 to take on local side FC Lyn, before ending their pre-season against Atletico Madrid. The Merseysiders will face Fernando Torres’ boyhood club on August 8, in what will be Liverpool’s final test before the 2009/10 season kicks-off a week later.

On August 15 Liverpool face Spurs at White Hart Lane in the Barclays Premier League, before receiving the visit of Stoke City just four days later.