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.

The midfielder, rested to the bench on Saturday in the draw at Tottenham, is sure to play a key holding role in this match, and he said: “We must be careful here, but we are also confident.

“Considering what happened to us last season in this competition, anything can happen. Of course we can go to the final again.

“But if we want to play in Paris next May then we must start by winning here in Seville. Of course there is a long way to go, but look what happened last season, anything is possible.

“But we know that other teams will be motivated because we are the European champions, and Betis are a very difficult side at home.

“They break quickly and have good wingers and a striker in Ricardo Oliveira who can score a lot of goals.

“But because we are champions we are confident of what we can do. It is great for myself and the rest of the Spanish lads in the Liverpool squad to come home to defend the trophy, but it will be greater still to go back to England with three points.”

He added: “The good thing is that because we have all played in this stadium and know the Spanish teams, we know them well and what they can do.

“That is a good thing and it will help us explain to our English colleagues what to expect.”

Betis boss Llorenc Serra Ferrer said of Liverpool’s Spanish influence: “The Spanish players there have provided great technique to Liverpool’s team and a very serious approach to playing at this level.

“Liverpool have a very strong defence and they showed last season what a very determined side they are.

“But they will face a Betis team who are desperate to do well in the competition, the first time we have figured in the Champions League.

“We may not have experience and could even be considered innocents. But sometimes that means crazy things can happen and our main hope and desire is to be optimistic and successful.

“I believe that we can beat the champions of Europe but it will not be easy.”