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It's meant to be a period for regaining fitness, shaking off the rust, and steadily preparing for the forthcoming campaign.
Nevertheless, there are occasions when preseason fixtures adopt a competitive intensity that contradicts their friendly label. This was precisely the situation in 2003 when the Reds faced Galatasaray - a team they will play again in the Champions League on Tuesday - in the Amsterdam tournament in the Netherlands.
What ought to have been an appealing encounter to settle the competition - Liverpool had drawn with hosts Ajax several days prior - instead deteriorated into mayhem featuring two dismissals, accusations of feigned injury, and widespread ill temper.
It likely didn't assist matters that the sides had become thoroughly familiar having clashed twice in the Champions League the preceding year, and that relations between England and Turkey were strained with both nations battling for qualification to the subsequent summer's European Championships.
Acquaintance, therefore, fostered animosity in the Dutch capital on a balmy August evening.
Affairs became heated in the second period when a reckless challenge from Igor Biscan on Berkant Goktan sparked a melee, following which Steven Gerrard, who had only entered from the substitutes' bench for the closing half-hour, received a caution.
"In that original tussle, Hakan Sukur went to grab him and pinch him," said then Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier. "Steven reacted, but in football, it's never the provocation that gets punished but the retaliation.
"The whole thing was started by a bad tackle by Igor Biscan, but the guy was not even injured."
Gerrard, undoubtedly conscious of being struck by Galatasaray defender Bulent Korkmaz in the tunnel during England's Euro 2004 qualifier with Turkey several months prior, had already become embroiled in an ongoing altercation with Hakan Unsal.
However, it was a challenge from another Liverpool substitute, Neil Mellor, four minutes from time, that ignited the subsequent melee.
Mellor received his marching orders for a tackle through the back of Gabriel Tamas, moments after which Gerrard was brandished a second yellow for dissent by harried referee Rene Temmiunk and accompanied his teammate down the tunnel.
"I don't know what happened between Steven and the referee later on," added Houllier. "Maybe as one of our leaders he was frustrated with Mellor being sent off and that got to him.
"But he didn't use any foul language or insult the referee, because I asked the referee immediately afterwards if that was the case and he said no."
The drama didn't conclude there, as Galatasaray wing-back Fabio Pinto appeared to spit at Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland following the final whistle, while the Turkish team celebrated its victory.
"Sure, it wasn't very friendly at the end, but sometimes emotions can get the better of players," said Galatasaray boss Fatih Terim. "That was not about the internationals or the countries involved. Anyway, we will win the game in Turkey and qualify."
England subsequently drew in Istanbul two months later and knocked out Turkey. And the final score in Amsterdam? Emile Heskey netted Liverpool's only goal as the Reds suffered a 2-1 defeat. But that's a detail often overlooked.
Liverpool and Galatasaray will face each other again on Tuesday in the Champions League, with the game taking place in Turkey.
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