Benitez focus is still on Kaunas
Jul 28 2005
By Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo
RAFA BENITEZ today insisted he is not worried about who Liverpool are paired with in tomorrow's Champions League draw.
The Reds boss says the one thing on his mind at the moment is securing a safe pbuttage into round three of the qualifying stages.
With a 3-1 lead over FC Kaunas from Tuesday's first leg many observers believe
Liverpool's progress into the next round is a foregone conclusion.
But Benitez has warned his players not to become complacent and told them not to be distracted by the third round draw - no matter what potential match it throws up.
He said: "All that I am thinking of is getting through against Kaunas.
"In football you must have respect for the opposition and that means taking one game at a time.
"I am aware that the draw for the next round takes place on Friday but, first, we have to make sure we prepare properly for the second leg against Kaunas."
The anticipation surrounding tomorrow's draw, which takes place in Nyon, Switzerland at 11am, has now reached fever pitch on Merseyside due to the possibility of Liverpool being drawn against Everton.
UEFA stripped Liverpool of their country protection when they allowed them to take part in this season's competition - meaning the chances of an unprecedented Champions League derby clash will come down to the luck of the draw.
Everton boss David Moyes said: "I've got clear concerns about what might happen.
"Of course, the decision as to who is seeded or not is nothing to do with us.
"We think that it's wrong that two clubs from the same country - the same city, even - could be drawn against each other in European competition at this stage.
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"You qualify for the Champions League in order to play teams from another country, not your local rivals.
"You don't usually expect to get one from your own country, let alone your own city, but there is only one club which is exposed to the fact that Liverpool have not been granted country protection and that's us."
Everton's country protection means they cannot be drawn against Manchester United while Liverpool cannot be drawn against their rivals from along the M62 either, because both teams are seeded at this stage of the competition.
The 14 winners from this month's second qualifying round will link up with the 18 sides entering at this stage with the resultant ties being played over two legs on 9-10 and 23-24 August.
The fact that Liverpool are seeded means they cannot be drawn against their fellow seeds - including Rangers, Ajax, Monaco, Villarreal, Inter and Panathinaikos.
They could be drawn to play any one of the 16 unseeded clubs, including FC Basel, Slavia Prague, Real Betis and Udinese.
Conversely, by being unseeded, Everton will be drawn against one of the 16 seeded teams - giving them a 15-1 chance of being paired with the Reds.
