Reds fight to defend title

LIVERPOOL'S hopes of playing in the Champions League next season are still alive despite UEFA's insistence England can have a maximum of four teams in Europe's elite club competition.

Several leading figures in European football have been persuaded Liverpool should be allowed to defend their trophy without taking the place of Everton, who finished fourth in the Premiership.

A final decision will be taken in three weeks' time when UEFA's 15-man executive committee meets in Manchester on June 17.