Everton to host Preston in third and final pre-season friendly

Everton have announced they will round off their 2020-21 pre-season programme by playing host to Preston North End.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men will welcome Alex Neil’s side, who finished ninth in the Championship last term, to Goodison Park on Saturday, September 5 for a 3pm BST kick-off.

This will be Everton’s third and final pre-season clash before kicking off the delayed Premier League campaign the following weekend (September 12) away to Tottenham Hotspur.

Before the Preston friendly, Everton will face two other Lancashire sides in Blackpool (today, 3pm kick-off) and Blackburn Rovers (Tuesday, September 1, 6pm kick-off); though, these are both away trips for the Blues.

All three of Everton’s pre-season matches will be played behind closed doors due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but 2020-21 season ticket holders and official members, as well as 2019-20 hospitality members, will be available to stream each of them live on the club’s official website.

Everton and Preston last met in a pre-season friendly at Deepdale ten years ago, when former North End manager David Moyes led the Blues to a 3-0 win thanks to a brace from future Preston player Jermaine Beckford and a Louis Saha strike.

Preston also get their Championship campaign underway on the weekend of September 12, when they will host Swansea City.

Everton - full 2020-21 pre-season programme (all kick-off times BST)

Saturday, August 22 - Blackpool v Everton (3pm)

Tuesday, September 1 - Blackburn Rovers v Everton (6pm)

Saturday, September 5 - Everton v Preston North End (3pm)