Liverpool's scheduled pre-season tour of Japan has been cancelled to allow them to contest the Champions League first qualifying round next month, Kashima Antlers officials said Thursday.

The English Premier League side, winners of the Champions League trophy, were to play against J-League's Shimizu S-Pulse on July 27 and Kashima on July 30 in their two-game friendly series announced in late May. But last week, European football's governing body EUFA changed its rules to allow the champions to defend their title next season, meaning they must play in six qualifying games beginning July 12 or 13. If Liverpool come through the first hurdle, they will face a second qualifying round scheduled for July 26-27 and August 2-3.