[lfc-news] Benitez focus is still on Kaunas - Echo

Liverpool Echo, 28 July 2005
Benitez focus is still on Kaunas
By Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo

RAFA BENITEZ today insisted he is not worried about who Liverpool are
paired with in tomorrow's Champions League draw.

The Reds boss says the one thing on his mind at the moment is securing a
safe passage into round three of the qualifying stages.

With a 3-1 lead over FC Kaunas from Tuesday's first leg many observers
believe

Liverpool's progress into the next round is a foregone conclusion.

But Benitez has warned his players not to become complacent and told
them not to be distracted by the third round draw - no matter what
potential match it throws up.

He said: "All that I am thinking of is getting through against Kaunas.

"In football you must have respect for the opposition and that means
taking one game at a time.

"I am aware that the draw for the next round takes place on Friday but,
first, we have to make sure we prepare properly for the second leg
against Kaunas."

The anticipation surrounding tomorrow's draw, which takes place in Nyon,
Switzerland at 11am, has now reached fever pitch on Merseyside due to
the possibility of Liverpool being drawn against Everton.

UEFA stripped Liverpool of their country protection when they allowed
them to take part in this season's competition - meaning the chances of
an unprecedented Champions League derby clash will come down to the luck
of the draw.

Everton boss David Moyes said: "I've got clear concerns about what might
happen.

"Of course, the decision as to who is seeded or not is nothing to do
with us.

"We think that it's wrong that two clubs from the same country - the
same city, even - could be drawn against each other in European
competition at this stage.

"You qualify for the Champions League in order to play teams from
another country, not your local rivals.

"You don't usually expect to get one from your own country, let alone
your own city, but there is only one club which is exposed to the fact
that Liverpool have not been granted country protection and that's us."

Everton's country protection means they cannot be drawn against
Manchester United while Liverpool cannot be drawn against their rivals
from along the M62 either, because both teams are seeded at this stage
of the competition.

The 14 winners from this month's second qualifying round will link up
with the 18 sides entering at this stage with the resultant ties being
played over two legs on 9/10 and 23/24 August.

The fact that Liverpool are seeded means they cannot be drawn against
their fellow seeds - including Rangers, Ajax, Monaco, Villarreal, Inter
and Panathinaikos.

They could be drawn to play any one of the 16 unseeded clubs, including
FC Basel, Slavia Prague, Real Betis and Udinese.

Conversely, by being unseeded, Everton will be drawn against one of the
16 seeded teams - giving them a 15-1 chance of being paired with the Reds.

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