Liverpool get Euro seeding

Liverpool face the possibility of a nightmare trip to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan or Armenia when they start the defence of their Champions League crown next month.

After savouring the delights of such places as Monaco, Turin and Athens en route to the dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over AC Milan in the final in Istanbul last month, boss Rafael Benitez's side now take on an altogether different proposition.

The reigning champions were recently given special dispensation by UEFA to take part in next season's competition, despite finishing outside the top-four qualifying places in the Barclays Premiership.

In return, the Reds must start their campaign in the first qualifying round for which they have been seeded, albeit with a number of 'interesting' venues on the cards.

The 12 potential opponents for Liverpool are: FK Rabotnicki (Macedonia), FC Dinamo Minsk (Belarus), FC Pyunik (Armenia), Sliema Wanderers (Malta), KF Tirana (Albania), FC Levadia Tallinn (Estonia), Glentoran (Northern Ireland), Total Network Solutions (Wales), F91 Dudelange (Luxembourg), PFC Neftchi (Azerbaijan), HB Torshavn (Faroe Islands), FC Kairat Almaty (Kazhakstan).

Benitez and his players will understandably be hoping for an easy opening tie against the likes of Glentoran, TNS or Sliema when the draw is made at UEFA headquarters in Nyon on Friday.

The first leg is now just three weeks away, with the competition getting under way on July 12 and 13, with the second leg a week later.

Should Liverpool progress, they will also be seeded for the second qualifying round, so avoiding the likes of Celtic, Anderlecht, Dinamo Kiev and Lokomotiv Moscow, with the games to be played on July 26/27 and August 2/3.