It’s going to be the strangest Champions League defence of all time — and the longest.
After their sensational triumph over Milan in Istanbul less than a month ago, Liverpool have already been embroiled in a lengthy battle just to be allowed to defend their crown in the traditional (and, indeed, regulation) manner.
But despite huge protests, the five-times European Cup champions find themselves having to call off a lucrative tour to the Far East as they head for the first qualifying round on the 12th and 13th of next month.
That gives their over-worked players — particularly England contenders Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher — just two months off as many head for next year’s World Cup in Germany.
Worse still, Liverpool now know that next month’s draw could see them starting their defence in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan or Armenia. Forget last season and the delights of Monaco, Turin and Athens. They’re heading off the beaten track.
European governing body Uefa have been kind enough to seed the Reds but that leaves them with this intriguing list of potential opponents in the first qualifying round. Just how many of these 12 sides do you recognise: FK Rabotnicki (Macedonia), FC Dinamo Minsk (Belarus), FC Pyunik (Armenia), Sliema Wanderers (Malta), KF Tirana (Albania), FC Levadia Tallinn (Estonia), Glentoran (Northern Ireland), Total Network Solutions (Wales), F91 Dudelange (Luxembourg), PFC Neftchi (Azerbaijan), HB Torshavn (Faroe Islands), FC Kairat Almaty (Kazhakstan)?
So it could be Wales, Malta or Ireland. But even if they romp through over two legs, Liverpool face a further four games before the group stages of the toughest club tournament on Earth.
Still, they managed to win it last year after going out of the FA Cup to Burnley. They seem to enjoy achieving the improbable.
Should Liverpool progress, they will also be seeded for the second qualifying round, avoiding the likes of Celtic, Anderlecht, Dinamo Kiev and Lokomotiv Moscow, with the games to be played on July 26 and 27 and August 2 and 3.
But all this will be done after a shortened session of transfer wrangling. Steve Gerrard, the inspirational captain and goalscorer in the final, remains a £40-million target for money-is-no-object Chelsea. I’m told Gerrard won’t stay unless they bring Real Madrid striker Michael Owen back.
Naturally, Chelsea will make sure that doesn’t happen with a bigger, better offer if the England striker chooses to return to the Premiership.
Manager Rafa Benitez’s shuffling has already begun for next season.
Out so far are El-Hadji Diouf, who has made his loan move to Bolton permanent, along with little-known Jon Otsemobor, Richie Partridge and Mauricio Pellegrino.
Czech Vladimir Smicer, who scored in their incredible comeback from 3-0 down against Milan in the final on May 25, has also played his last game for the club. None managed to command a fee — or even find another club to go to.
The great hero of the night, Polish goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, finds himself on the way out too with Liverpool about to land Villareal’s number one Jose Reina.
Dudek, whose heroics and Bruce Grobbelaar-style antics saw him save penalties from Andrea Pirlo and Andriy Shevchenko to wrap up the Champions League on spot kicks, must wonder what’s going on.
You have to admire his reponse, though. Dudek says: ”I still have two years left on my contract, so yes, I will stay at Liverpool.
”I admit that there was a lot of speculation on this issue, but the coach must buy another goalkeeper.
”I am not afraid that the new goalkeeper will make problems for me. Every year it is difficult to be in the line-up, and it will be the same next season,” said the former coalminer.
Reina (28) is also wanted by Arsenal but he says, fairly conclusively: ”Rafael Benitez is an excellent coach. It will be terrific to play alongside Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia. To come to the champions of Europe with the history of Liverpool is not easy, but I will answer these questions with a positive response.
”It will be a great boost to my career. My three seasons in Villarreal have been magnificent and I’m sad to leave.
”I know British stadiums from my time with Barcelona and Villarreal. The atmosphere is phenomenal and my first match at Anfield will be very emotional.”
Given that first match could be a Champions League first round qualifier against FC Pynick from Armenia or FC Leavdia Tallinn from Estonia, I wouldn’t be too sure about that!