Parry confident of finding Gerrard solution

LIVERPOOL chief executive Rick Parry is confident Steven Gerrard will lead the side out when they begin the defence of their Champions League title at Welsh side TNS.

UEFA's decision to allow the holders into the competition despite finishing fifth in the Premiership was tempered by the fact they had to begin in the first qualifying round.

That is just over a fortnight away but with speculation still circulating about Gerrard's future, Parry was keen to stress he believed the England midfielder would commit himself to the club by signing a new contract.

"We want Steven to stay, there is no cause for concern on our part. There is no delay on his contract," said the Reds chief executive, who was at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, for yesterday's Champions League draw.

"We have always said we hope Steven will be with us. We want to win trophies, Steven wants to win trophies and I think captaining us to the European Cup was a pretty good step in the right direction and nothing has changed since then."

Liverpool have also been linked with a number of close-season signings and although none have materialised yet, Parry said there was no panic about rushing things through to meet Champions League deadlines.

Liverpool avoided the nightmare prospect of an eight-hour flight to Kazakhstan on the far reaches of the Euro-Asian border and instead were given an ideal start to their Champions League defence just down the road in Wales. Coincidentally, it TNS last month suggested a play-off against Liverpool for the right to go into the Champions League when it appeared the Anfield side would be denied the right to defend their title after failing to qualify through their league position.

And should Liverpool progress, as they are expected to do, they will face the winners of HB Torshavn of the Faroe Islands and FBK Kaunas of Lithuania.

The suggestion is TNS will play their home tie at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground - although the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff has already been mooted as an alternative - and Parry said he was happy to go with whatever the Welsh club choose.

Even the second qualifying round draw was favourable for Liverpool if they see off the Welsh champions over two legs, with the Anfield tie on July 12 or 13 and the return to Wales on July 19 or 20.

Opponents from the Faroes or Lithuania will not involve a lengthy journey - which is key for Liverpool as they prepare for the new Premiership season - and Parry believes manager Rafael Benitez would already be doing his homework.

Meanwhile, Celtic manager Gordon Strachan is refusing to worry about the possibility of a gruelling trip to Kazakhstan in the Champions League second qualifying round.

While the immediate feeling is that the Glasgow giants have been dealt a tough draw against the winners of Kairat Almady or Slovakians Artmedia Bratislava, it has failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the Scot.

If Kairat prove successful in the first qualifying round, Celtic face a tiring trip to near China and return just hours before they are due to face Motherwell at Fir Park.