No easy ride against Betis, says Benitez

LIVERPOOL start their defence of the Champions League for real tonight with a clash in Seville which boss Rafael Benitez considers as tough as last season's semi-final showdown at Chelsea.

But the man who guided Liverpool to their fifth European Cup refuses to accept his side are any less underdogs at this level than they were last term.

Liverpool face an ambitious Real Betis in their opening Group clash, seemingly with the rest of Europe waiting for them to fall flat on their faces after the Istanbul miracle.