UEFA decision on Reds could come early

UEFA chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson on Monday claimed a decision over whether Liverpool will be permitted to defend their Champions League title could be made before the executive committee convenes on June 17.

European football’s governing body have come under immense pressure to admit the Reds into next season’s competition, even though they finished outside the top four in the Premiership.

Olsson now suggests the executive committee may rubber-stamp a change in the rules guaranteeing the Champions League winners the right to defend the trophy in future, but the decision on Liverpool could come sooner than that.

He told Sky Sports News: “We can make a decision before the meeting, because it is important for the clubs playing that they know the conditions.

“We are doing an analysis now and it is complex. There will be an open discussion. It is a welcome debate because there are different views in different countries.

“It cannot be a discussion only about Liverpool. The entire rule has to be discussed.”