Alonso begins the final countdown

Spanish ace Xabi Alonso turned up the heat on his European Cup-winning team-mates saying they must start their group stage campaign with a win against Champions League debutants Real Betis.

Liverpool flew into the Andalusian capital to be confronted with temperatures of nearly 100 degrees heat and Xabi Alonso knows the heat is on them in more ways than one now they are the holders.