British Quartet aim for Euro Qualification

Four of Europe's most famous clubs will be aiming for European qualification in the next 48 hours. Rangers, Liverpool, Manchester United and Everton will all be aiming to secure a place in Europe's most famous club competition and the financial rewards that come with it

Anorthosis Famagusta v Rangers

Rangers will aiming to seal qualification to the group stages for the second time in Alex Mcleish's era at the helm of the Scottish champions. Rangers face a tricky test away at Anorthosis Famagusta, from Cyprus.

The match already has extra spice to it, with the Cyprit's player coach claiming that Rangers are not as technically gifted as Trabzonspor. Anorthosis Famagusta's coach incidentally is Former Dundee and Newcastle midfielder Ketsbaia. Mcleish is unfazed by his opposition manager's claim, though.

"A lot of the European teams do have the technical edge over the Scottish teams," said McLeish.

"But we do have a few foreign players in our team who are brought up in the art of building from the back."

Incidentally, Rangers beat Anorthosis Famagusta 1-0 on aggregate at a similar stage in the competition in 2000.

CSKA Sofia v Liverpool

Liverpool, meanwhile, will be expecting a tougher showing against CSKA Sofia, a Bulgarian outfit. The Liverpool manager is expecting a far tougher test than the previous encounters against TNS and FBK Kaunas. Liverpool cruised past TNS 6-0 on aggregate, and similarly against Kaunas 5-1 on aggregate.

Benitez told Liverpool's website: "We know CSKA Sofia are a better team than the last one we played and we must be careful. They play good football, have a compact defense and have some good players. I have seen some videos and had a scout report and they are a good team.

"We know this will be a more difficult game than the other two but we prefer to concentrate more about what we will do."

Liverpool will be hoping to secure qualification to the group stage after being made to play in all of the qualifying stages despite winning the Champion's League, due to the fact they only finished 5th in the Premier League.

Everton v Villarreal

On the other hand, Everton have possibly the toughest test of all of the British teams, with a difficult test against Spanish outfit Villarreal, who finished fourth in La Liga.

Villarreal ironically opted to sign Manchester United reject Diego Forlan, who has been a revelation at Villarreal, sharing the Golden Boot with Thierry Henry last season.

David Moyes is in upbeat mood however, claiming that it feels like Christmas Eve at Goodison Park ahead of the historic Champions League tie.

Moyes told Everton's website: "It is like Christmas Eve and you know what that feels like. I am excited and I can't wait for the game to come.

"We want to get into the game because it is something we worked so hard for last year. You hear so many teams this year talking about wanting to qualify for Europe. Well Everton have done that, not by finishing fifth of sixth, but by finishing fourth.

"Today makes us realise what a great achievement that was. It was the players who earned this with their performances on the pitch last season. It is the players who have taken us here."

Moyes will be hoping to capitalize on the opportunity to take Everton into uncharted territory after silencing the critics last season with a sensational fourth placed finish.

Man Utd v Debrecen

Manchester United face an intreuging tie against Hungarian Champions Debrecen. United have been forced to play the qualifying stage twice in the past three seasons after two third places finishes in the Premiership (First in 2002, and again in 2004, and now again in 2005). Although United eased to a 5-1 aggregate win over Dynamo Bucharest last year, they were given a scare in 2002 when Zalaegerszeg shocked the Red Devils and beat them 1-0, though United eventually progressed 5-1 on aggregate.

Ferguson though, is hoping a rejuvenated Ruud Van Nistlerooy - who is on a high after a recent hatrick against Royal Antwerp - can fire them to qualification.

"Last season was a fragmented one for Ruud but now he's fit and we expect and know he'll deliver," said Ferguson.

"That'll be a great boost to us. When he hits goalscoring form it makes a massive difference to us."

Anything less than a comfortable victory will be an absolute embarrassment for United, who will seek to do their best in this year's competition after a series of early exits from the Champions League since their semi final appearance against Bayer Leverkusen in 2002.