Liverpool Don’t Fancy Trip To Israel

The Champions League Third Qualifying Round draw was made this morning, and it paired Liverpool with Maccabi Haifa. Liverpool are understandably concerned about playing the away leg in Israel, and are hoping a neutral, less rocket-likely venue can be agreed. Other big clubs in the draw include AC Milan (whose place is still only provisional) Arsenal, Ajax and Valencia.

Complete draw as follows:

Sheriff Tiraspol/Spartak Moscow v Liberec
Shakhtar Donetsk v FH Hafnarfjordur/Legia Warsaw
FC Zurich/SV Red Bull Salzburg v Valencia
Levski Sofia/Sioni Bolnisi v Chievo
Hearts/Siroki Brijeg v AEK Athens
CSKA Moscow v Djurgardens IF/SCP Ruzomberok
AC Milan v Cork/Crvena Zvezda
Galatasaray v Mlada Boleslav/Valerenga
Standard Liege v HIT Gorica/Steaua Bucuresti
Austria Magna v Benfica
FK Ekranas/Dinamo Zagreb v Arsenal
FC Copenhagen/MyPa v Ajax
Hamburg v Osasuna
FK Metalurgs/Dynamo Kiev v Fenerbahce/B36 Torshavn
Liverpool v Maccabi Haifa
Lille v Debrecen/Rabotnicki Kometal

First legs to be played on 8th/9th August. Second legs 22nd/23rd August. Winners go through to Champions League group stages, where the money is.