Schedule headache for Rafa

RAFAEL BENITEZ will not be best pleased after the announcement of the fixtures for the 2009/10 Barclays Premier League campaign yesterday landed Liverpool with some tough scheduling after European games.

The Reds boss was embroiled in a row with Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson last season, during which he claimed Liverpool were “handicapped” by the timings of matches – even quipping his rival should “organise the fixtures and everything in his office and send them to us”.

The debate for the campaign ahead is likely to once again centre on which of the ‘Big Four’ teams play at home and which have to travel following potentially testing midweek European ties.