Pool and United could face tough opposition

LIVERPOOL and Manchester United may have to beat Spanish or Italian opposition to qualify for the lucrative group stages of the Champions League.

UEFA yesterday confirmed the coefficients which are used to calculate each side's seeding in Europe's elite club competition and although Liverpool and United would both be seeded for the final qualifying round, there are some tricky potential opponents who will be unseeded.

These include Real Betis who finished fourth in Spain's Primera Liga and managed a win and a draw against Barcelona and Udinese who came fourth in Italy's Serie A.

Liverpool, who have no "country protection" after being given special admittance into the qualifying rounds of the competition to defend their trophy, could face unseeded Everton.

The seedings mean Arsenal and should they qualify United and Liverpool are guaranteed to avoid the most powerful sides in Europe in the group stage. However, Chelsea will be among the group of eight second seeds and could end up facing Real Madrid, AC Milan or Barcelona, with the meeting against the Catalan giants causing much controversy last season.

Jose Mourinho's side, who like Arsenal are one of 16 teams who have qualified automatically for the group stage, could also be picked in the same group as Liverpool. Everton are ranked 42nd under UEFA's coefficient system and would be among the bottom seeds should they qualify.

The coefficients also determine which teams are seeded in the qualifying rounds and Everton's lowly status means they could end up having to beat Inter Milan, Sporting Lisbon or even Liverpool to make it into the group stage.

Celtic's strong ranking should guarantee them seeding for the second and final qualifying rounds and an easier ride to the group phase, and Rangers would almost certainly be seeded as well in their qualifying round.

Liverpool have three qualifying rounds to surmount but in each round would be seeded and avoid the strongest opposition.

Meanwhile, UEFA yesterday said they would not alter their decision about allowing Liverpool to defend their trophy, despite a protest from the Czech FA that Slavia Prague will have lost their place as one of the seeds and face a much tougher task in qualifying for the group stage.

UEFA communications director William Gaillard said: "This was never going to be a win-win situation for everybody. We have tried to find the best solution but it's obvious there will have to be some sacrifices. We are sorry about that but it is only for this year. The executive committee have made their decision and that's final."

:: UEFA's co-efficients, top seeds (if all qualify for group phase): 1 Real Madrid (Spa) 131.326, 2 AC Milan (Ita) 121.191, 3 Barcelona (Spa) 117.326, 4 Liverpool (Eng, title-holders) 115.864***, 5 Man Utd (Eng) 110.864*, 6 Inter Milan (Ita) 101.191*, 7 Bayern Munich (Ger) 97.166, 8 Arsenal (Eng) 93.864.

:: Second seeds (if all qualify): 9 Porto (Por) 93.739, 10 Juventus (Ita) 93.191, 11 PSV Eindhoven (Hol) 84.145, 12 Chelsea (Eng) 68.864, 13 Lyon (Fra) 81.324, 14 Olympiacos (Gre) 46.715, 15 Schalke 04 (Ger) 44.166, 16 Sparta Prague (Cze) 43.223.

:: Third seeds (if all qualify): 17 Lille (Fra) 41.324, 18 Benfica (Por) 36.739, 19 Fenerbahce (Tur) 23.872, 20 Panathinaikos (Gre) 70.715*, 21 Celtic (Sco) 63.476**, 22 Villarreal (Spa) 58.326*, 23 Sporting Lisbon (Por) 55.739*, 24 Monaco (Fra) 53.324*.

:: Fourth seeds (if all qualify): 25 Ajax (Hol) 52.145*, Bruges (Bel) 50.476*, 27 Anderlecht (Bel) 47.476**, 28 Rangers (Sco) 40.476*, 29 Dynamo Kiev (Ukr) 40.200**, 30 Werder Bremen (Ger) 40.166*, 31 Lokomotiv Moscow (Rus) 38.469**, 32 Rosenborg (Nor) 36.665*.

::Others: 33 Slavia Prague (Cze) 35.223*, 34 Real Betis (Spa) 34.326*, 37 Udinese (Ita) 30.191*, 42 Everton FC (ENG) 20.864*.

* = must play one qualifying round.

** = must play two qualifying rounds.

*** = must play three qualifying rounds.