Premier League giants Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC begin their assault on the UEFA Champions League tonight, and both can expect serious tests as they target group-phase berths.
Arsenal travel to face FC Twente on Wednesday, before hosting the Eredivisie side a fortnight later, and manager Arsène Wenger knows his players will have to be focused if they are to emerge triumphant. "When you go to Holland, you get a game – it's a football country," he said. "The clubs are always well organised and we will be favourites. It will be important for us to be at the top of our concentration to go through."
The Gunners were in the Netherlands on pre-season duty and had to come back from two goals down to beat AFC Ajax on Friday, winning 3-2 against the side Twente pipped in a play-off to claim their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round place. And with former England manager Steve McClaren in the dugout, the Enschede outfit will have added motivation. "It is a good opportunity for him to show his quality," added Wenger, whose Arsenal side beat McClaren's Middlesbrough FC 7-0 the last time the pair locked horns in January 2006. "He will want to show that he can bounce back and show his quality."
Liverpool also contest their first leg away from home as they face R. Standard de Liège on the same night. The two sides previously met in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup during the 1965/66 campaign, with Liverpool claiming a comfortable 5-2 aggregate win. Yet the Merseysiders' coach Rafael Benítez knows not to take the Belgian champions lightly. "People may say it's a kind draw for us but we will treat them with respect," said the Spaniard. "They have not played in the group stages of the Champions League before so they will be keen to change that. Also, they will have the confidence of champions after winning their title."
Benítez's cause could be complicated by an injury to talismanic captain Steven Gerrard, who suffered a thigh strain during a friendly with Vålerenga IF and may not be risked. The five-time European champions will also be without Lucas Leiva, Javier Mascherano and Ryan Babel, all of whom are competing at the Olympics.
Arsenal travel to face FC Twente on Wednesday, before hosting the Eredivisie side a fortnight later, and manager Arsène Wenger knows his players will have to be focused if they are to emerge triumphant. "When you go to Holland, you get a game – it's a football country," he said. "The clubs are always well organised and we will be favourites. It will be important for us to be at the top of our concentration to go through."
The Gunners were in the Netherlands on pre-season duty and had to come back from two goals down to beat AFC Ajax on Friday, winning 3-2 against the side Twente pipped in a play-off to claim their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round place. And with former England manager Steve McClaren in the dugout, the Enschede outfit will have added motivation. "It is a good opportunity for him to show his quality," added Wenger, whose Arsenal side beat McClaren's Middlesbrough FC 7-0 the last time the pair locked horns in January 2006. "He will want to show that he can bounce back and show his quality."
Liverpool also contest their first leg away from home as they face R. Standard de Liège on the same night. The two sides previously met in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup during the 1965/66 campaign, with Liverpool claiming a comfortable 5-2 aggregate win. Yet the Merseysiders' coach Rafael Benítez knows not to take the Belgian champions lightly. "People may say it's a kind draw for us but we will treat them with respect," said the Spaniard. "They have not played in the group stages of the Champions League before so they will be keen to change that. Also, they will have the confidence of champions after winning their title."
Benítez's cause could be complicated by an injury to talismanic captain Steven Gerrard, who suffered a thigh strain during a friendly with Vålerenga IF and may not be risked. The five-time European champions will also be without Lucas Leiva, Javier Mascherano and Ryan Babel, all of whom are competing at the Olympics.
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