LIVERPOOL ARE IN THE NEXT SEASON'S UCL!
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Liverpool have been given the chance to defend their Champions League crown after Uefa handed them a place in the first qualifying round for next season.
The Reds beat AC Milan in last season's final but, because they finished out of the Premiership's top four, were not guaranteed entry in 2005-2006.
Uefa's executive committee changed its rules on Friday to allow Liverpool in.
But the Anfield club will get a smaller slice of television revenue than the other four Premiership teams involved.
Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Everton will still get less money than they would have done had Liverpool not been granted a place, however.
Spokesman William Gaillard admitted splitting the pot five ways rather than four will be "a burden on the other English-based clubs".
Liverpool will also get no "country protection" which means if they progress through the qualifying stages they could face Everton or Manchester United - who enter at the third qualifying round.
If the Reds make it through to the group stages, they could be drawn to face Chelsea, who they beat in the semi-finals last season, or Arsenal.
But first Rafael Benitez's men must face a first qualifying round tie, with the first leg being played on 12 or 13 July and the second on 19 or 20 July.
LIVERPOOL'S FIXTURE CONGESTION
Champions League
12-13 July: 1st round, 1st leg
19-20 July: 1st round, 2nd leg
26-27 July: 2nd round, 1st leg
2-3 Aug: 2nd round, 2nd leg
9-10 Aug: 3rd round, 1st leg
23-24 Aug: 3rd round, 2nd leg
Pre-season
16 July: v Bayer Leverkusen
22 July: FC Cologne
27 July: Shimizu S-Pulse
30 July: Kashima Antlers
Super Cup
26 Aug: v CSKA Moscow
That means they will now probably have to cancel scheduled friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen and Cologne.
And if successful in the first qualifying round, they will probably also have to cancel a pre-season tour of Japan, where they are due to play Shimizu S-Pulse and Kashima Antlers.
Uefa chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson told BBC Radio Five Live the decision by the 14-man executive committee was unanimous.
"Unanimous means that everybody is supporting it. By definition, that is also the case here.
"There were no discussions actually on where they should enter the competition because everybody was of the opinion they should be given the opportunity but they have to start from the beginning.
"They could not be allowed to get into the 32 for example."
But while there is joy for Liverpool, there has been disappointment for Manchester City.
The Uefa Cup spot which Liverpool had earned for finishing fifth in the Premiership will not transfer to another English club so City, who would have been next in line, will not be in Europe.
Uefa insists the saga which has dogged it since Liverpool finished fifth domestically and then won the Champions League will never be repeated.
"The Uefa executive committee decided to amend the regulations for the future editions of the Champions League, so that the holders will have the right to defend their title and therefore qualify automatically," said a statement on the organisation's website.
The new system is in marked contrast to 2000, when Real Madrid won the Champions League but finished outside of Spain's qualification positions.
On that occasion fourth-placed Real Zaragoza were relegated to the Uefa Cup. -
much as i cheered LFC winning the UCL, i am jeering this decision...
however, i would still cheer LFC if they ran with the ball and did wonders again like they did in the last season..
UEFA has screwed up big time here... -
well at least we can be contented for being able to qualify for next season's UCL... lets just enjoy it while we can..
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that means one country will have one club less to qualify?
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Not really, they're just grouped together with all the unknown teams from countries like Andorra, Faroe Islands, Slovakia etc.....
So, most likely they have to go to some ulu stadium and play....
There's good but there's bad also.... -
i dun think they deserved to go UCL. the rules r clear, fail the top 4 spots n u r not in.
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a case of sour grapes i supposed?Originally posted by RaTtY81:i dun think they deserved to go UCL. the rules r clear, fail the top 4 spots n u r not in.
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That is not the point , the point is the Liverpool won the CL , they should be allowed to defend the title .... do u see the point in the first place ? I doubt it.Originally posted by RaTtY81:i dun think they deserved to go UCL. the rules r clear, fail the top 4 spots n u r not in. -
A precedent was set. Real Madrid won the UCL but finished 5th in La Liga. In the end, the Spanish FA was forced to choose Real Madrid over Zaragoza, which finished 4th.
So in this case, the English FA should be forced to withdraw Everton to allow LFC to play in the coming UCL.
UEFA has definitely gotten it all wrong. -
yea its quite unfair.the english fa shud do the choosing.not uefa.i can only pity those zaragoza players and fans.well big clubs always haf their way.
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UEFA has decided to put it's name on the line hereOriginally posted by F Takumi:A precedent was set. Real Madrid won the UCL but finished 5th in La Liga. In the end, the Spanish FA was forced to choose Real Madrid over Zaragoza, which finished 4th.
So in this case, the English FA should be forced to withdraw Everton to allow LFC to play in the coming UCL.
UEFA has definitely gotten it all wrong.
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but they have to play 6 pre-qualifying games.. there is a risk they may not make it thru
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Because we are Liverpool FC !!!!!!!!!Originally posted by RaTtY81:i dun think they deserved to go UCL. the rules r clear, fail the top 4 spots n u r not in. -
No European Champion successfully defended the Title .
I don't think Liverpool can do the job again .
Nevermind la , give Arsenal & Chelsea a chance la . -
i also dun tink liverpool can successfully retain it.not becuz i'm sore being a chelsea fan but becuz no team in history has won back to back cl titles.heh..den again if uefa takes this stance,alot of teams in the cl will concentrate on the cl if they noe they can't get the top 4 spots.but anyway i just hope tat the rules will be stated clearly now.
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i dont know if this is a good decision, considering how liverpool is going to defend their trophy. this is UEFA's way of punishing liverpool for putting them in a difficult position.
with a pre-season cramped with more games than during the season itself, liverpool might land itself with tons of injuries before the season even started.
i wont rule out the possibilities of some season-long injuries unless liverpool is getting themselves a huge squad.
and that could jepordize its ambition on the domestic league while struggling in championship league.
anyway, its no turning back now. -
I believe that the UEFA Committee know that Liverpool team is undergoing major regroup.
So, Liverpool may not not qualify within the 1st round as they still have not gel as a team or the key players have not been bought.
Although Liverpool is now in Champion League, Stevie have not penned his contract yet. Therefore, the boring drama of "to sign or not to sign" will start again.
To Stevie, if you want to get out, get out now and dun be a spoilsport.
I am actually pretty sick of this drama mama.
The decision of having Champion League will also mean that the Japan Tour is cancelled.
The original plan of bringing the Champion League Cup to Singapore is NO MORE.
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not a case of any grapes.... but rules r stated tat top FOUR in epl r allowed in the UCL. LFC finish 5th... simple as tat...Originally posted by frOst^~^nOva:a case of sour grapes i supposed? -
Originally posted by Poolman:
so?
Because we are [b]Liverpool FC !!!!!!!!![/b] -
There are always 2 sides to a coin....either way, we win some n lose some!
UEFA has made a mickey of themselves in the 1st place - how cld they have not considered amending the rules earlier (after Real's case) ---> it wld've made everyone's job easier now!? As far as I'm concerned, we need not go thru all these nonsense.
Anway, the decision...albeit half-expected, is a triumph for common-sense and more impt'ly, the spirit of the sports! -
The UEFA did not amend the rules as they expected the local FA to make the decision of choosing between the league 4th finisher and UCL champion to participate in the next UCL. In Real Madrid's case, the Spanish FA chose Real Madrid over Zaragoza. Thus the onus was on the English FA to choose between Everton and Liverpool.
However, they did not expect the English FA to "play cheat", ie chose Everton and then rallied the G14 to appeal to UEFA for Liverpool to be included too.
The common sense and spirit of the sports is to uphold the rules, which was overwritten in this case. Zaragoza and their supporters must be feeling hugely unjustified. The other 4 English teams that qualified for UCL are also rueing the fact that they have to share the allocated funds with Liverpool.
This reminds me of the Rooney dive that earned Man Utd a penalty and ended Arsenal's undefeated run. -
Liverpool should be allowed in...
The name Champions' League itself already tells all its a place for the Champions.
If the champion cant be allowed to defend the trophy, then what's the point of the whole format? just let every team join and fight it out till there's an eventual winner? And i think every team will want to beat Liverpool in the most coveted competition to show that they're better..
At least the panel didnt allow Liverpool in at the expense of Everton. They did very well and deserve their place. I can imagine chaos in Merseyside if that happens... -
Save for this latest change in UCL, can anyone name a current cup competition whereby the champions are granted an automatic right to defend its trophy?
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i believe world cup also change rules liao.holders haf to go through qualifying phrase.the uefa cup too.holders don't seem to gain automatic entry.
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why not next time have only champions of the league playing for UCL?