“We have a good opportunity of progressing.”Valencia, last season’s beaten finalists, will be favourites to go through with United, just as they did a year ago. Sir Alex Ferguson will remind his troops that United’s 3-0 victory over the Spaniards at Old Trafford in December was arguably their best since becoming European champions.Panathinaikos, good enough to eliminate Juventus in Athens on Wednesday night, are not a force to be taken lightly, but a lightweight attack is an obvious Achilles’ heel.The Austrian champions, Sturm Graz, were beaten convincingly 3-0 by United last season, although the return at Old Trafford was a distinctly low-key affair, settled by a dazzling strike from Ole Gunnar Solksjaer. This season they have won all their home matches, but conceded at a rate of four per away game, which does not bode well for their trip to Manchester on 13 March that closes the group.Their attitude to this stage of the competition was summed up by Sturm Graz’s captain, Ivica Vastic “If we get through it would be a miracle,” he said But miracles do happen Just ask David O’Leary.. Gerard Houllier, the Liverpool manager, believes his side’s Uefa Cup third-round meeting with Greek champions Olympiakos will be their toughest test so far in the competition.

Olympiakos were third in their Champions’ League group behind Valencia and Lyon, and are formidable opposition on their own ground. Gerard Houllier, the Liverpool manager, believes his side’s Uefa Cup third-round meeting with Greek champions Olympiakos will be their toughest test so far in the competition. Olympiakos were third in their Champions’ League group behind Valencia and Lyon, and are formidable opposition on their own ground.
So far Houllier’s team has struggled to see off modest opposition in Rapid Bucharest and Slovan Liberec, and will need to show improvement in the third round if they are to progress any further in this season’s competition. The Reds were due to play the first leg at home on 23 November, but that has been switched because of domestic matches in Athens on 7 December. Liverpool will now play away in a fortnight’s time and play host to their opponents in the second leg.”This is a very hard draw because they are a team who have won their championship and have performed very well in the Champions’ League,” Houllier said. “They have already beaten Valencia and Lyon on their own ground, and both those are quality opposition This shows they will be a very hard draw for us We will need the same attitude and effort again.

I know they are a very skilful side.”Houllier had reason to be grateful for the efforts of Emile Heskey on Thursday, the striker scoring in the 3-2 win over Liberec, despite taking a battering in the Liverpool cause. Heskey faced the sort of sustained thuggery from two defenders that would have seen them sent off in most Sunday league games. The centre-backs Josef Lexa and Petr Johana were the culprits, and it was a clear failing of the German referee Edgar Steinborn that only the latter was booked.However, Heskey refused to be intimidated. He said: “I’ve had a few cuts and bruises in other matches, but the Slovan game was easily one of the worst But I am used to it now It’s all about discipline. You don’t like to be kicked and kicked and kicked again, but that’s the game sometimes and I have to learn to handle it.”Rangers were paired with Kaiserslautern, the fourth time they have been up against a top German side in the past three seasons. They were dumped out of the Champions’ League last season by Bayern Munich and then out of the Uefa Cup by Borussia Dortmund. The Ibrox leg is scheduled for 23 November and the away leg for 7 December, but the ties could be brought forward two days for television reasons, as Kaiserslautern are one of seven German teams still involved in the competition..

Blackburn Rovers head south to Portsmouth seeking their seventh consecutive win today with a warning from their manager, Graeme Souness, ringing in their ears. Blackburn Rovers head south to Portsmouth seeking their seventh consecutive win today with a warning from their manager, Graeme Souness, ringing in their ears.
The win at Barnsley on Wednesday moved Rovers into fourth spot in the First Division table, but Souness said: “We are not going to sit in armchairs thinking the job is done It is important we keep this run going. We have to meet the challenge head on and I believe we have the players to do it.”Matt Jansen is set to join Mark Hughes in attack, while David Dunn returns and Brad Friedel could make his debut in goal. Portsmouth will be missing the suspended Justin Edinburgh as they seek to increase their own six-match unbeaten run.Paul Robinson is set to return after suspension for table-topping Watford at Tranmere Rovers as the Hornets bid to return to winning ways after the midweek defeat by Sheffield Wednesday. Richard Jobson plays, but Micah Hyde and Darren Ward are doubtful.Wimbledon have the defender Darren Holloway back for the visit of second-placed Fulham, who can pick from Luis Boa Morte, Barry Hayles, Louis Saha and Boa Morte for the two striking spots.Bolton Wanderers call on Paul Warhurst to replace the transferred Mark Fish for the home game with Barnsley, who have Carl Regan, Robbie van der Laan and Neil Shipperley out and Darren Barnard doubtful. The loan signing Stuart Ripley is certain to start.Sheffield Wednesday are missing the suspended midfielder Alan Quinn for the visit of Norwich City and Gerald Sibon is doubtful Efan Ekoku should be back after a bout of flu.