Euro Masters on collision course

The Champions League draw was just announced and inevitably Liverpool and Chelsea (who met in an epic and controversial semi final last year) will meet each other again in this seasons first group stage. It is understandably a draw that neither side will have wanted. Sure, Mourinho will want instant revenge against the reining European Champions, but he would have preferred to have done this in this seasons Premier League fixtures - where Chelsea finished more than 30 points above Liverpool last season.

Furthermore, Mourinho has made a complaint about how Chelsea have to play away from home after the Champions League fixtures, he made this jibe against Arsenal who have David Dein as a key Representative at the FA. Arsenal play at home after virtually every Champions League fixture this season.

Speaking of Arsenal, they have been drawn in a relatively easy group along with Ajax, Sparta Prague, and Thun - an unknown Swiss outfit. I do not anticipate any problems whatsoever for Arsene Wenger's men, and they will be buoyant after beating Ajax 1-0 in the Amsterdam tournament in pre-season.

Manchester United have a slightly more challenging prospect in their group, they must face Everton's conquerors Villarreal. Lille and Benifica should represent no problems whatsoever for Ferguson's team, who usually stroll through the group stages with utter ease.

Rangers undoubtedly have the most challenging task as they have to face FC Porto (who won the competition in 2004) and Inter Milan (semi finalists in 2003). They also face Artmedia Bratislava, a Slovakian team, who will surly be the whipping boys of that group. Rangers will have to look to pick up maximum points against them to maintain any Hope of qualification to the knockout stage, and hope to pick up as many points at home against the other more challenging teams in the group.

(Full draw, British teams in bold)

GROUP A
Bayern Munich Juventus Club Brugge Rapid Vienna

GROUP B ARSENAL Ajax Sparta Prague Thun

GROUP C Barcelona Panathinaikos Werder Bremen Udinese

GROUP D MAN UTD Villarreal Lille Benfica

GROUP E AC Milan PSV Eindhoven Schalke Fenerbahce

GROUP F Real Madrid Lyon Olympiakos Rosenborg

GROUP G LIVERPOOL CHELSEA Anderlecht Real Betis

GROUP H Inter Milan Porto RANGERS Artmedia Bratislava