Cup draw mercy for Mersey duo

Everton avoided city neighbours Liverpool in the draw for the final qualifying round of the Champions League only to land equally-daunting opposition in Villarreal, one of the most impressive sides in Spain last season.

There were audible sighs of relief in UEFA’s headquarters when the Merseyside teams were kept apart, but Everton face the toughest of challenges to make it into the group stage.

Liverpool, with a 3-1 advantage over Kaunas in the second qualifying round, look to have an easier prospect against Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia, who are 2-0 up against Tirana, while Manchester United will be equally happy with a likely match against Debreceni of Hungary, who are 3-0 up after the first leg against Hajduk Split.

Rangers are making lans for a trip to Cyprus to play Anorthosis Famagusta, who were 3-1 surprise victors against Trabzonspor of Turkey in the first leg. Should the unthinkable happen and Celtic overturn their 5-0 deficit against Artmedia Bratislava, then Partizan Belgrade or Macedonian side Sheriff would await.

A place in the group stage looks odds-on for holders Liverpool, Manchester United and Rangers but unseeded Everton can take nothing for granted.

Chairman Bill Kenwright, however, refused to be downhearted and promised squad reinforcements before the start of the season. He said: “Part of you feels we belong in this draw anyway and part of you feels it’s a miracle by a miracle manager, and Evertonians feel great about that.

“Looking at the seeded teams there were two or three that may have been easier but most of them pose the same difficulties, and that’s why we were prepared to play Liverpool too.

“A club that finishes up there in Spain must be tough opposition. Villarreal are a very good club – but isn’t it great that we are playing them?

“I think there will definitely be movement in the transfer market before the season and hopefully some before we play Villarreal – it would be an incredible amount of wasted hard work if we didn’t get some new players in soon.”

Villarreal are new players on the Spanish football stage but their South American influences helped them to a best-ever third place in the Primera Liga last season.

Coached by former River Plate boss Manuel Pellegrini, their chief dangerman is Argentina playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme, and even Manchester United’s former striker Diego Forlan has proved himself, finishing the club’s top scorer last season.

Hard-tackling Italian midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi has also just signed from Juventus to strengthen the squad.

Villarreal’s general manager Jose Manuel Llaneza said: “We said beforehand a British team would be dangerous – and that is especially so having to play the second leg in England.”

Liverpool’s main reaction was relief that their lack of ‘country protection’ after being given special dispensation to defend their trophy did not land them with the most tense Merseyside derby of all time.

UEFA have guaranteed that Liverpool will travel to Sofia or Tirana for the second leg on Tuesday August 23 rather than the following day, with the Super Cup against UEFA Cup winners Lokomotiv Moscow on the Friday.

Chief executive Rick Parry said: “The main thing was avoiding Everton, nobody wanted that, and we have been to Sofia in the recent past to play Levski Sofia so we know what to expect.

“We are relieved not to be playing someone right at the top of the list but it will be a long way to travel when we are playing the Super Cup in the same week but at least we are where we would have liked to have been.

“As ever we will treat our opponents with respect but we are reasonably happy.”

Debreceni are expected to switch their home leg to Budapest and United’s assistant secretary Ken Ramsden said: “It’s unknown territory for most of us - in terms of distance to travel it could have been worse could have been better.

“There were some very good and well-known clubs that we could have drawn but no doubt plenty were happy to avoid Manchester United. It doesn’t mean that it’s an easy tie, we just hope for the best now.”

Rangers chief executive Martin Bain insisted the Scottish champions would take nothing for granted.

He said: “The home tie at Ibrox in the second leg suits us so we will see what it brings. You have to give every team in that draw respect but I’m sure the manager will be happy that we are away from home first.

“Getting into the group stage is extremely important for the football club and that can’t be over-emphasised.”

Inter Milan against Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine was the pick of the other ties, while Irish side Shelbourne will play Rosenborg should they manage to overcome Steaua Bucharest – the tie is finely balanced after a goalless draw in the first leg.

The first legs of the final qualifying round will be played on August 9/10 and the second legs on August 23/24.