Go fourth and qualify, Wenger tells ’Pool

ARSENE WENGER has poured cold water on Liverpool’s hopes of gaining entry to the Champions League next season as holders.

UEFA made it clear they “wouldn’t have a second thought” about starting next season’s competition without the champions if they had not qualified through their domestic league.

Unless Liverpool manage to overtake Everton into fourth spot, that would leave the FA with the unenviable task of deciding between them, providing the Reds win the trophy. It appears likely that the FA board would come down on Everton’s side.

However, Real Madrid were catapulted straight into the group stages in 2000-01 after winning the trophy but finishing fifth in their league.

Not only did fourth-placed Real Zaragoza find themselves thrown into the UEFA Cup, but Valencia lost their automatic qualifying place.

Wenger, whose side could pay the same price if Rafael Benitez’s side are given an automatic spot, declared: “Liverpool are 31 points behind the leaders and have lost 13 league games this season.

“If it’s called the Champions League, only Arsenal should be in it this season and next year only Chelsea. But I can’t see the logic behind the team that finishes fifth or sixth qualifying.”

Meanwhile, Rafael Benitez insists on his club’s right to defend the Champions League if they win it.

“The FA have a big problem, normally if you win a trophy then commonsense says that you must defend it next season.

“They are waiting for a solution to appear because it is so difficult for them to make a decision.”

Benitez also declined the opportunity to deny he was interested in Real Madrid star Luis Figo and was dellighted with the speculation that Chelsea may have turned their attention away from Steven Gerrard as they are reportedly interested in River Plate’s Javier Mascherano.

Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger has admitted Thierry Henry has just a 30% chance of facing Manchester United in the FA Cup final.

“That’s a realistic view. He’s not in training and he’s not played for three weeks.”

Asked if he had considered sending Henry on his summer holidays, Wenger added: “I would be tempted if he didn’t get better in the next week, but he looks as though he is improving every day.”