Tough UEFA Cup draw - but there's no reason for Everton to fear Liege
NOT for the first time, a European draw in Monaco left Evertonians groaning at their rank bad luck.
Following on from Villarreal, Dinamo Bucharest and Metalist Kharkiv, the Blues were presented with an assignment to book a place in the UEFA Cup group stages that, at first glance, seems anything but straightforward.
One question. Why the worry?
Just because Standard Liege ran Liverpool close over two legs in the Champions League does not mean they have suddenly become world beaters. If anything it simply highlighted the shortcomings of the team from across the Park.
Put it this way - during last season's European adventure, had Everton been paired with a side from Belgium, there would have been a quiet confidence about getting the job done without too much trouble.
What, then, has changed?
Liege, of course, will be difficult opponents and have some industrious players, but name one player in their starting line-up that is a genuine household name? It's time to stop subscribing to the 'glass half empty' school of thought.
Other than starting each game against Liverpool with an early flurry, Liege did not threaten to score an avalanche of goals with slick, one-touch football, so why should that be the case now they have to face the Blues?
Surely they should be concerned about the problems Everton will cause, rather than the other way around. Adopting a defeatist attitude only leads to one outcome.
Fortunately, Everton's players would never allow themselves to think that way and Phil Jagielka observed: "When you look at who we could have got, then I suppose you have to say we've been a bit unlucky, but we're still fully confident.
"They gave Liverpool a decent game and they are clearly a good side, but we know what the European games are all about now after last season and we're looking forward to it. If you get to the UEFA Cup, you can't expect any easy rides."
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