Liverpool FC Forum

akumaface wrote:I wonder how they do it???

daddyo wrote:LIFTED FROM 'THE SPORTING LIFE' THIS MORNING. IS THIS DUDE FOR REAL? ???

big boys desperately want to avoid in Friday's Champions League third qualifying round draw, claims former Toffees striker Graeme Sharp.

Everton are rated 42nd-best in the competition because of their poor continental track record and are unseeded for the draw at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

But the Premiership's fourth-best side last term should be rated as the most dangerous wild card in the competition claims Sharp, who figured in the club's European Cup Winners' Cup triumph in 1985.

"They really should be rated a big, big danger for anyone. Nobody wants to play English clubs in the tournament because of the quality of the league," Sharp said.

"Everton finished fourth last season and many of their games would have been seen all over Europe.

"Everton may be virtual unknowns as far as many clubs in Europe are concerned, but nobody will want to play them."

He added: "Everton are not seeded, which makes them even more dangerous. Liverpool are seeded and are in the same draw and they won't want to be drawn against Everton.

"And that surely will go for the other big boys. In the third qualifying round you are hoping for an easier passage than facing a club like Everton.

"The players will really want to get through, many of them have never played in the Champions League. And the same applies to the fans. I can't see any big club wanting a tie at Goodison Park with the place packed out.

"Europe's big boys will look at Everton's record in the Premiership and won't fancy playing them one little bit.

"Nobody dare underestimate them, they beat Manchester United and Liverpool last season and are really up for this one."

Apart from Liverpool, Everton could be drawn against the likes of Ajax, Dynamo Kiev, Monaco, Rangers, Panathinaikos and Inter Milan from the seeded list of 16 - only Manchester United from that group cannot be drawn to play Everton.

Sharp added: "Everton have been virtually ignored, because they have no experience at this level it's easy to write them off.

"But a seeded club will want something a lot easier than playing Everton. Over two legs anything can happen."

Everton boss David Moyes has already expressed his dismay that his side could be drawn against Liverpool, the European Cup holders having been stripped of their country protection in the draw.

Everton could also face Rangers or Celtic, but it's now unlikely that the Hoops will figure in the next round after their 5-0 hammering by Artmedia Bratislava in the first leg of their second qualifying round tie.

Nobody on Merseyside really wants an Everton v Liverpool showdown, certainly not the local police or either club's administrators who can see the prospect of close on £20million resting on the outcome, with the losers dropping into the UEFA Cup.

For Everton that is a shocking prospect.

They have not competed among the European elite since 1970-71, having twice being denied a place by the ban on Liverpool and the rest of English football after the Heysel tragedy of 1985.

Sharp said: "You can see it coming and it would be bad. UEFA don't want all these English clubs involved and if a Mersey derby happens there will be a few raised eyebrows, I'm sure."

OMG!!!!!!!!! is this guy having a joke? ?

or have you edited it?

that is unbelievable if it's true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

an easier passage than facing NEVERTONIONS!!!!!