Reds land TNS draw
Jun 24 2005
By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
LIVERPOOL have been handed the Champions League draw they craved - a 40-mile journey to face Welsh champions Total Network Solutions.
With the prospect of nightmare trips to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan or Armenia, the Reds were handed the short trip through the Mersey tunnel for the first qualifying round.
Liverpool will kick-off their campaign at Anfield on either July 12 or 13.
The return leg a week later, however, is certain to be switched because of safety concerns surrounding TNS's Llansantffraid ground.
"This is magnificent news for the club and we're really looking forward to playing Europe's elite," said TNS managing director Mike Harris.
"The downside is it makes life difficult for us to progress, but I'm sure our side will want to give a good account of itself."
Suggestions of TNS using Wrexham's Racecourse ground have already been made, while Harris said yesterday: "If we took the game to the Millennium Stadium, we would get a bumper crowd."
The second qualifying round will see Liverpool face the winners of the clash between HB Torshavn of the Faroe Islands or FBK Kaunas of Lithuania.
The Faroe Islanders all support Liverpool, while the Lithuanians should pose few problems also.
Liverpool, as top seeds, were drawn first out of the pot.
By David Prentice, Liverpool Echo
LIVERPOOL have been handed the Champions League draw they craved - a 40-mile journey to face Welsh champions Total Network Solutions.
With the prospect of nightmare trips to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan or Armenia, the Reds were handed the short trip through the Mersey tunnel for the first qualifying round.
Liverpool will kick-off their campaign at Anfield on either July 12 or 13.
The return leg a week later, however, is certain to be switched because of safety concerns surrounding TNS's Llansantffraid ground.
"This is magnificent news for the club and we're really looking forward to playing Europe's elite," said TNS managing director Mike Harris.
"The downside is it makes life difficult for us to progress, but I'm sure our side will want to give a good account of itself."
Suggestions of TNS using Wrexham's Racecourse ground have already been made, while Harris said yesterday: "If we took the game to the Millennium Stadium, we would get a bumper crowd."
The second qualifying round will see Liverpool face the winners of the clash between HB Torshavn of the Faroe Islands or FBK Kaunas of Lithuania.
The Faroe Islanders all support Liverpool, while the Lithuanians should pose few problems also.
Liverpool, as top seeds, were drawn first out of the pot.
3 Comments:
Wrexham agreement for TNS tie
Wrexham's Racecourse Ground is set to host the second leg of Liverpool's Champions League first round qualifier against Welsh side TNS.
The first leg will be played at Anfield on July 12 or 13, but there has already been speculation that the return on July 19 or 20 may be switched to a bigger venue such as the Millennium Stadium.
However, Dragons secretary Geraint Parry revealed that an agreement with TNS was reached last month that would see the Welsh champions pay the Dragons a `hire fee' to host Rafael Benitez's side at the 15,500 capacity stadium.
However, Parry did admit the match could still be played in Cardiff.
He said: 'The contracts between ourselves and TNS were signed and sent off to UEFA last month, before Liverpool were allowed back into the competition.
'The local police gave us the go-ahead and the safety certificate has been issued by the local council. We've got 10,500 seats and 5,000 terrace spaces and are confident the Racecourse Ground would prove an suitable venue.
'Of course, TNS may now want to switch it to the Millennium Stadium with Liverpool being their opposition, as they did when they played Manchester City.
'I know that proved lucrative for TNS, but until we hear anything different from them, the game will be played at the Racecourse.'
Wrexham agreement for TNS tie
Wrexham's Racecourse Ground is set to host the second leg of Liverpool's Champions League first round qualifier against Welsh side TNS.
The first leg will be played at Anfield on July 12 or 13, but there has already been speculation that the return on July 19 or 20 may be switched to a bigger venue such as the Millennium Stadium.
However, Dragons secretary Geraint Parry revealed that an agreement with TNS was reached last month that would see the Welsh champions pay the Dragons a `hire fee' to host Rafael Benitez's side at the 15,500 capacity stadium.
However, Parry did admit the match could still be played in Cardiff.
He said: 'The contracts between ourselves and TNS were signed and sent off to UEFA last month, before Liverpool were allowed back into the competition.
'The local police gave us the go-ahead and the safety certificate has been issued by the local council. We've got 10,500 seats and 5,000 terrace spaces and are confident the Racecourse Ground would prove an suitable venue.
'Of course, TNS may now want to switch it to the Millennium Stadium with Liverpool being their opposition, as they did when they played Manchester City.
'I know that proved lucrative for TNS, but until we hear anything different from them, the game will be played at the Racecourse.'
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