Benitez rues Liverpool's Euro fixtures headache

LIVERPOOL (AFP) - Rafa Benitez was left cursing the Premier League fixture computer after Liverpool were handed a Champions League headache by the schedule for the 2009-10 English season.

Benitez's side face a series of three tough away fixtures and two testing home matches immediately after each of the Champions League group stage matches, while their Premier League rivals have several more low-key fixtures.

AFP/Adrian Dennis

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The possibility of travelling across Europe for a crucial fixture in the continent's top club competition and then returning to England for another daunting domestic game will infuriate Benitez.

The Liverpool boss was embroiled in a row with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson last season, during which he claimed Liverpool were "handicapped" by the timings of matches.

He is unlikely to feel any better about the issue after flicking through Liverpool's Premier League fixtures.

After the opening games of the new Champions League season on September 15/16, the Reds are set to travel to West Ham, while all of their rivals will be at home - United involved in the Manchester derby which could well be switched to a Sunday kick-off giving the league champions more recovery time.

AFP/Ian Kington

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On Matchday Two, Liverpool head to title rivals Chelsea, while again United and Arsenal are also at home.

United visit Anfield after Matchday Three, while the Merseyside derby against Everton at Goodison Park follows Matchday Five on the weekend of November 28.

Liverpool find themselves involved in another big clash after the concluding group matches in early December when Arsenal visit Anfield.

Only on Matchday Four do the Reds appear to get a break, when they host promoted Birmingham, while United travel to Stamford Bridge that weekend and Arsenal are at Wolves.

Even if Liverpool qualify for the knock-out stages, they won't escape the fixture curse. With the second leg of the knockout round scheduled for either March 09/10 or 16/17 next year, the Reds could be faced with a trip to Old Trafford on March 20 - again another potentially decisive fixture in the domestic title race so soon after a European game.

United and Chelsea, meanwhile, are scheduled to clash immediately after the Champions League quarter-finals first leg on March 30/31.

If still involved by the semi-final stage, which swiftly follows the FA Cup semi-finals, then Liverpool are set to travel to Chelsea - who knocked them out of Europe last season - over the penultimate weekend of the Premier League campaign.

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does he never stop whinging,always spitting his dummy out the little fat greaseball
From LES, on Sun 21 Jun 1:00AM
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simonhindhaugh 20 so your the Liverpool fan
From Tim B, on Thu 18 Jun 1:22PM
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The dirty wingeing fat spanish waiter is at again. U S E Y O U R S Q U A D ! United had far worse last season, they were still CL finalist and English Champions. Stop moaning . . . 'that's the football' as Ronaldo would say.
From Sid, on Thu 18 Jun 1:12PM
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is samward a man a woman or both ha ha tv if you ask me it aint sure ha ha lol
From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Thu 18 Jun 12:55PM
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samward888 should be 666 ditto loserfool nob ha ha whinge whinge whinge come on you got no wonga ha ha 80 million and counting whats your transfer kitty ha ha trophyless season coming up for you again ha ha lol
From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Thu 18 Jun 12:54PM
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dazmanutd you are a massive gimp
From Sam www, on Thu 18 Jun 12:19PM
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all scousers are in dreamland we have sold ronaldo but we aint spent the money yet you idiots ha ha
From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Thu 18 Jun 11:29AM
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see the scum dont like the truth so they thumb the comments down @#$% no trophies again for you losers this season your garbage
From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Thu 18 Jun 11:28AM
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Lovely language from the beloved football fans of UK, you are a disgrace, not one sentence without vulgar comments, venom flows from the mouth like, god knows what, you are disgusting people.
ALL OF YOU.
From , on Thu 18 Jun 9:33AM
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I am a Liverpool fan and i have to say that the guys at yahoo who write these articles really dont like liverpool very much. Nothing has been said by Rafa regarding the fixtures and the article is just designed to get under the collars of the liverpool supporters.
However! Rafa can not come out and start moaning about fixtures as this is the EPL...the hardest and best league in the world and im pretty sure that at some point in the season, Man u, Chelsea and Arsenal will all have a crappy set of fixtures that just wont seem fair.
Benitez needs to concentrate on strengthening our squad especially now Ronaldo has gone, I think Man u will miss Ronaldo and as we were close last season its sure gonna be an interesting league next season.
I CANT WAIT
BRING IT ON
From simonhindhaugh, on Thu 18 Jun 9:05AM
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YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........YAHOO BLOGGERS ARE MANCS...........
From scouse mark YNWA, on Thu 18 Jun 9:01AM
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I THINK EUROSPORT BLOGGERS ARE MANURE FANS..........
From scouse mark YNWA, on Thu 18 Jun 8:59AM
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yahoo/eurosport...yahoo/eurosport......yahoo/eurosport. ..... stop all this @#$% your talkin... if theres no quotes then stop making a mountain out of a molehill....... this is doin me swede in..... YNWA...... OR MAYBE YOUR LOOKING FOR AN EXCUSE FOR ALL THE MANURE UNITURD FANS TO COME OVER AND CHAT UTTER NONSENSE...
From scouse mark YNWA, on Thu 18 Jun 8:58AM
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jong you are a coward.Rafa hasnt voiced out anything but the article is just trying to twart any mindgames Fergie may bring now or in future.TO ADD ONE MORE FIXTURE MISERY IS THAT THE MIGHTY REDS WILL HAVE UP TO 10 AWAY MATCHES IN THE RETURN LEAGUE WHILE MANCS WILL HAVE ONLY 8.MAKING IT FOR THE LIKE OF HOWARD WEBB TO AWARD ManU A PENALTY AT OT
From Michael, on Thu 18 Jun 8:58AM
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whats with all the utd twats coming on liverpools page n acting like d.i.c.k.s, rafa hasnt even said anything about the fixtures note there are no actual quotes in that article, stupid manc scum, n yes believe it or not u did have the easier run in last yr, i am the only liverpool supporter outa bout 10 lads n they even agreed with rafa... so stop trying to be arses like ur manager n grow the hell up.
From freddyfinger1983, on Thu 18 Jun 8:42AM
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moaning spanish t..t, so man utd had it easy last season did they,check the fixtures last year,oh no 8 spot on mate,just get on with it or go back to spain, and take half your spanish so called proffesionals with you
From jon g, on Thu 18 Jun 8:36AM
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that's nonsense!!!! Last year Man U had an away game after EVERY single GAME in the CL group stage. And yet they reached the final and won so many trophies!!!!
From roy_elias10, on Thu 18 Jun 8:14AM
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Sorry but where's the quotation about his problems with the fixtures? Until I see actual quoted reports I don't believe he's "moaning" about anything. Putting words into people's mouths as usual.
From johnnymercyside, on Thu 18 Jun 8:05AM
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pleese let me win one premia leg medul bfor i go to spainland wiff rafa.
From , on Thu 18 Jun 8:05AM
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ya... last season manchester united was on away fixture after champions league group stage fixture but still emerge into final and english league champions... stop moaning spaniard...
From Aniki T, on Thu 18 Jun 8:04AM
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