Champions League draw

Owing to Liverpool not receiving country protection, the Merseyside duo were able to meet, but instead the draw sets up the chance of five English clubs in the Champions League group stage.

At UEFA's HQ in Nyon, Switzerland, it was Manchester United, winners in 1999, who were our first team out of the hat.

The Old Trafford side are still uncertain over their opponents, having been lined up against either Debreceni of Hungary or Hadjuk Split of Croatia.

The Hungarians, though, lead 3-0 after the first leg and it would need a good display from Hadjuk to overturn the score in Croatia. The winners of the tie will travel to Manchester for the first game.

Everton and Liverpool were only separated by one team, Villareal of Spain. The la Liga side, from the Castellon province on the east of Spain, 25 miles south of Valencia, can prepare for a trip to Goodison Park for the first-leg, which will be Everton's first ever Champions League game.

The next tie out saw Liverpool, or their 2nd Qualifying Round opponents Kaunas, drawn at home first against either Albania outfit Tirana, or CSKA Sofia of Bulgaria.

With Liverpool ahead 3-1 with the home leg still to come and Sofia earning a 2-0 win in Albania, they are favourites to meet for a place in the group stage.

The first-leg matches will be played on 9/10 August with the return matches two weeks later on 23/24 August.

The full draw