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FROM Soccernet.com :

Liverpool will defend European crown


Liverpool will be allowed to defend their Champions League crown next season.
UEFA's 14-man executive committee today decided to make a special case to allow the Reds into the first qualifying round of the competition next season.


It means Liverpool will have to play six matches in order to qualify for the group phase and it could interfere with their pre-season tour of Japan.

Liverpool, who failed to finish in a qualifying place in the Barclays Premiership, will become the fifth English side in the competition.

UEFA have also taken steps to ensure that the same scenario never occurs again by changing the rules so that in the future the titleholders will always qualify for the competition the following season.

If the Liverpool situation occurs again and the European champions fail to finish in a qualifying place in their domestic competition however they will come in at the expense of the fourth-placed side.

The rules will also apply for countries who only get three or two Champions League spots, but there will be a special exemption in the unlikely event of a country with one Champion League spot winning the competition but failing to win their own domestic league.

UEFA said in a statement: 'Liverpool FC will compete in next season's UEFA Champions League first qualifying round.

'The UEFA Executive Committee decided to amend the regulations for the future editions of the Champions League, so that the holders will have the right to defend their title and therefore qualify automatically. At the same time, the number of clubs allowed per national association will remain stable based on coefficient ranking.

'Exceptionally, for the upcoming season, the executive committee today decided to allow the current Champions League holders to defend their title.'

The UEFA executive committee also decided that:

Liverpool would enter the competition in the first qualifying round, to be played on 12/13 and 19/20 July, with the draw taking place on 24 June.

There will be no country protection for Liverpool.

Liverpool will be included in the English market pool share with the status of lowest-placed English club.'

UEFA spokesman William Gaillard admitted that splitting the pot of money five rather than four ways will be 'a burden on the other English-based clubs'.

There was further disappointment for Manchester City, who will not take Liverpool's place in the UEFA Cup.

Gaillard described the verdicts on Liverpool and Manchester City as a 'consensus position'.

'The executive committee decided this was the best solution possible,' he told Sky Sports.

'They felt that this was the best and wisest decision.'