Liverpool Will Defend Cup

UEFA have announced that Champions League holders Liverpool FC will compete in next season's Champions League first qualifying round, there by allowing them to defend their title.

The UEFA Executive Committee decided to amend the regulations for the future editions of the Champions League, so holders will automatically qualify to defend their title.

A UEFA statement said: "Exceptionally, for the upcoming season, the UEFA Executive Committee today decided to allow the current Champions League title-holders to defend their title."

Liverpool finished a disappointing fifth in the top English flight last season, one place below the cut-off for guaranteed Champions League football - the final berth taken by arch-rivals Everton.

The Executive Committee also announced that Liverpool would enter the competition in the first qualifying round, to be played on 12/13 and 19/20 July, with the draw for the first qualifying round is scheduled to take place on June 24 in Geneva.

While countries are usually exempt from playing each other at various stages of the competition, there will be no "country protection" for Liverpool, meaning they could be drawn to play another English club at any stage of the competition.

The four English teams in the competition are champions Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC who have qualified for the Champions League group stage, while Manchester United FC and Everton FC join the competition in the third qualifying round.

In addition, Liverpool will be included in the English market pool share with the status of lowest-placed English club a decision which may not please Everton bosses.

"It was a unanimous decision – I think it was a very good decision," UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christer Olsson said, "because there was a need for the amendment.

"The Executive Committee took a decision to amend the regulations slightly for the Champions League, which means that in the future, the champions will always be able to defend their title, independently of how many slots each of the associations have," he added.

"As a consequence, the Executive Committee decided to give Liverpool the opportunity to defend their title in the coming season.

"It means that in future, if has four free slots for example, one of these should be allocated to the champions if they have not qualified through the ordinary system in their domestic league," Mr Olsson continued.