SOCCER/Champions League draw: Uefa admitted Liverpool to the Champions League against its own rules, but the privileges stopped there. In view of football's mesmeric corniness the removal of their protection from meeting another English club could only have one consequence for the holders. Yesterday's draw placed Chelsea beside them in Group G.
Nothing can compare with this restaging of last season's semi-final. There were some sly touches elsewhere and while Arsenal should advance quietly to the last 16 with Ajax, Manchester United are compelled to inspect the prowess of Villarreal's golden boot winner Diego Forlan, who had such difficulty in ruffling the goal nets at Old Trafford.
Rangers, if they need distraction from their task against Internazionale and Porto, will be intrigued by the other club in group H. Artmedia Bratislava humiliated Celtic with a 5-0 win in the Slovakian capital and the Scottish champions would enjoy embarrassing their Glasgow rivals by dealing briskly with such opponents.
For Britain, though, these are all sub-plots. Liverpool and Chelsea can both emerge from group G, leaving Anderlecht and a potentially dangerous Real Betis behind, but there will be no non-aggression pact between the Premiership teams. Too much happened at Anfield in May and there has been too little time to forget it. The disputed goal from Luis Garcia that night will always rankle with Chelsea.
The clubs were further interlocked in the summer when they grappled for the services of the Liverpool captain. Steven Gerrard stayed on Merseyside. "It would be nice to see the English teams progress," he said with understandable tact, "we hope we don't cancel each other out." Chelsea will still force him to demonstrate his worth all over again.
Two great reputations must also collide in front of the dug-outs. Jose Mourinho's record was extraordinary but the Anfield manager Rafael Benitez has virtually equalled it, transforming himself from a modest footballer into a strategist who could take the Uefa Cup, with Valencia, and then the Champions League in consecutive seasons.
Chelsea like to tell themselves they would have won that semi-final had Arjen Robben or Damien Duff been fit, but the club have since tried to nullify the effect of such injuries.
Michael Essien, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Asier Del Horno have deepened the quality at Stamford Bridge. Benitez, without the means of Mourinho, has developed his squad more haltingly, but the transfer window has not shut yet. It remains be seen whether the manager's interest and the Anfield club's finances are deep enough for Michael Owen to be repatriated from Real Madrid.
Liverpool and Chelsea will have to spare some attention for the other sides in the group. Anderlecht were apparently the more convincing of them in the third qualifying round, with victories against Slavia Prague in each leg of a tie that showcased the finishing of Mbo Mpenza. In practice, however, it was Betis who really proved themselves, winning their home leg with the 2004 Champions League finalists Monaco 1-0. The return in the principality had rocky patches before the Spanish side picked their way to a 2-2 draw.
The remaining Premiership clubs can be glad they are not in so dangerously absorbing a group. Arsenal should not be threatened in Group B. In the Netherlands, Ajax have been overshadowed of late by PSV and their progress through the qualifiers showed more resolve than talent. The side won 2-1 at Brondby but lagged 0-1 at home before coming through to win 3-1 on Wednesday.
Arsene Wenger will not be intimidated by Sparta Prague but could be bemused by Thun, the part-time Swiss club who had never experienced the Champions League before this season. Their own ground does not meet the required standard for the tournament and they will play instead at the Wankdorf Stadium in Berne. Their annual budget is just €3.2 million and they will earn as much from a Uefa pay-out, even before television money and ticket sales are taken into account.
Others will consider more conventional topics. Once they have torn their thoughts away from Forlan, who claimed a winner over Everton on Wednesday, United must ready themselves to cope with a slick Villarreal.
The other missions in the group may not be taxing. While the reputation of the French League on the rise, Lille, cannot compare with the current champions Lyon. Benfica, for their part, were steered to their first Portuguese title in 11 years by Giovanni Trapattoni, but the coach immediately jumped ship to take over at Stuttgart.
Rangers, once they set Artmedia Bratislava to one side, would normally have been enthralled by the forthcoming trip to San Siro. No spectators, however, will be allowed there as part of Uefa's punishment for the crowd trouble at last season's quarter-final between Inter and Milan. It is hard to determine the effect of that, or to assess a Porto side still trying to get to grips with life after Mourinho.
FIXTURES FOR MATCHDAY ONE: Tuesday, September 13th Group E - AC Milan v Fenerbahce. Group E - PSV v Schalke 04. Group F - Lyon v Real Madrid. Group F - Olympiacos v Rosenborg. Group G - Real Betis v Liverpool. Group G - Chelsea v Anderlecht. Group H - Artmedia v Inter Milan. Group H - Rangers v Porto. Wednesday, September 14th Group A - Club Brugge v Juventus. Group A - Rapid Vienna v Bayern Munich. Group B - Arsenal v FC Thun. Group B - Sparta Prague v Ajax. Group C - Werder Bremen v Barcelona. Group C - Udinese v Panathinaikos. Group D - Benfica v Lille. Group D - Villarreal v Man Utd.
