The draw for the third qualifying round of the Champions League took place this morning and Liverpool have been drawn against Belgian team Standard Liege. Standard Liege won the Belgian league last season but I do not think they will pose much threat to us. But as always you can never rule out any team and I am sure that is exactly what Rafa is going to tell us. The first leg will be played in Belgium on August 12/13 and the return leg at Anfield on August 26/27. Winning this tie against Standard Liege will mean we qualify for the Champions League proper and will be in the draw for the group stages. I am glad with drawing Standard Liege, it could have been worse if we got Atletico Madrid or FC Twente who Arsenal have subsequently been drawn against. I will laugh if Arsenal slip up against FC Twente.
Nice trip for the Liverpool fans. Standard Liege is known in Belgium as a team with fanatic fans. Enjoy the great atmosphere in Standard Luik and probably also the Liverpool-victory. 🙂
Grtz from Belgium.
Movie from Standard fans: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAhTYwrRTpM
Thank you. I am sure we will enjoy the trip and hopefully a good victory. Your fans look awesome, should be a great atmsophere in Belgium and we all know how great it will be at Anfield.
FC Twente have McClaren, or else I’d say an upset was possible.
Hi,
i have to say i’m not a fan of standard liege, but of sint-truiden, a team that plays in the belgian second division (first competition that follows the belgian jupiler league where standard liege became champion). But as a ‘neutral’ Belgian fan concerning the bigger teams such as Anderlecht, Bruges & Standard Liege, one can say that the crowd and atmosphere @ Sclessin, stadium of Standard Liege, beats easily the other bigger teams.
Liege lays in the Wallonia-part of Belgium where the common language is French. Concerning atmosphere teams in Wallonia are more connected to the Italian way of supporting with tifo-actions, firework,… Most teams in Flanders, such as Club Bruges, prefer the Brittish way of supporting, less show, more noise. But i have to admit Standard can be called the champion in Belgium as well concerning songs, noise as concerning visual actions.
I’m sure you guys will have a great time @ Belgium, Belgian beer as much as you can drink for a reasonable price! 🙂
Some Stella Artois would be great! http://www.ronscrib.net/2008/07/18/stella-artois-in-rons-bar/
Sounds like a fun trip for us then, I think that the Belgian crowd will help us to remember that this is the Champions League and to bring that level of intensity from the start.
Thanks for the info.