RAFA RIDES HIS LUCK

Liverpool 1, Standard Liege 0

(aet, Liverpool 1-0 on agg)

STANDARD Liege are entitled to claim insurance for the £10million theft they suffered at the hands of UEFA last night.

Not just because limp Liverpool robbed them of a deserved place among the European elite.

But because it’s a travesty the champions of their own country were refused instant entry to the group phase and had to participate in the qualifiers at all.

UEFA have proved with their elitist formula they not only penalise the little guys, they practically invite the superpowers to trample over them.

Liverpool’s recent European conquests are enough to justify the huge slice of fortune they served to overcome the brave Belgians.

The competition wouldn’t be the same without the atmosphere and annual dramas at Anfield, so neutrals should celebrate rather than begrudge Dirk Kuyt’s winner.

But as The Kop applauded the visitors out of Anfield, they knew Liege were equally, if not more deserving of a place in today’s draw.

Romped

What more did the Belgians have to do to convince the suits sipping bubbly in Monaco today that they were out of place in the qualifying rounds?

Liege were beaten only once in their own league last season, and that was after they’d romped to the title with as impressive a record as any side in Europe.

Their performance here proved it was no fluke, and not just a reflection of a sub-standard league. They shocked potential winners, and should have been leaving Anfield with a point in their group rather than a tear in their Belgian beer.

Clueless UEFA cronies say unless their ‘co-efficients’ add up, being champions is no longer enough to be in the Champions League.

Finishing runner-up in England, Spain or Italy, on the other hand, means your chief executive gets to lap it up on the French Riviera every August.

The reasoning is simple. You can’t risk having too few of the English, Italian and Spanish clubs attracting the advertising revenue which filters back into the prize winning funds.

So while the rules of entry are fixed in favour of making the rich get richer, those knocking on the door to get in are met with football’s equivalent of meathead bouncers saying the club is full.

Liege are right to feel wronged.

At the very least, the Belgians ought to have been kept apart from the top seeds and given a fairer opportunity to progress.

More idealistic souls who believe a competition’s name shouldn’t need to be challenged under the Trade Descriptions Act could argue the Champions League should be precisely that, with a guarantee title holders play in the groups. Only runners-up should have to gamble on the qualifier.

As for Liverpool? If they carry this much luck into the later rounds, their sixth triumph at the home of their first in Rome is inevitable come May.

But they must now face a period without talismanic skipper Steve Gerrard, out for at least a fortnight after a groin op this morning.

After another ‘ugly win’ (Liverpool games are currently in danger of becoming a footballing version of Quasimodo) Rafa Benitez has used so many get of jail cards in the first few weeks of the season, he’s already certain of one accolade.

No-one will ever beat him at Monopoly.