IF we finish sixth?

[Mattshark]

Coutinho doesnt play for Brazil much though does he? Same with Lucas.

Lucas did prior to his injury, I wouldn't be surprised if he got back in the squad soon.

[Chazza]

We can get in through fair play I think, thats the only way.

Liverpool reject Fair Play route into Europa League after booking pre-season tour

Liverpool will reject the chance to qualify for Europe through the back door after committing to a lucrative pre-season tour of the Southern Hemisphere.

Liverpool have the second best disciplinary record in the Barclays Premier League, but they are expected to qualify for the Europa League via UEFA’s Fair Play League because Arsenal, who have the best disciplinary record, are odds on to be in Europe anyway.

England are fourth in the Fair Play League behind Norway, Sweden and Finland. Three teams qualify through the league.

Liverpool have received 51 yellow cards and two red cards. The 10-match ban Luis Suarez received for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic last month does not count against them because it was retrospective action, which is not considered.

However, teams making the Europa League via that method start out in the first week of July, with the second qualifying round on July 18 and July 25, and that cuts across Liverpool commitments in Indonesia and Australia.
Liverpool have never played in either of those countries and their visit has created huge interest.

The club have put a lot of energy into ensuring the tour goes smoothly and a game in Melbourne on July 24 at the iconic MCG against Melbourne Victory is already a 90,000 sell-out.

After that, Brendan Rodgers’ side will also play a lucrative game on July 29 against Thailand.

Rodgers is anxious for Liverpool to compete domestically and in Europe but he would rather do it in the conventional way.

He said: ‘We want to get into it with our performance level and it’s highly unlikely we’d get that route.’

UEFA have confirmed that, if Chelsea were to finish fifth in the Premier League and win the Europa League, the sixth-placed league team would not gain entry into Europe.

UEFA give three Europa League places to England each year. Two are already taken — by Swansea, who won the Capital One Cup, and FA Cup finalists Wigan. Rodgers thinks Liverpool may be helped next season by not having extra commitments.

‘If we have a year where we are not in it, it’s going to give us an opportunity to push on,’ he said.

‘There’s also a pride thing. You want to get in it by performing and through (your league) positions.’

Rodgers’ first foray into Europe as a manager ended in the Europa League’s round of 32 this year, when Liverpool were beaten by Zenit St Petersburg on away goals, but they played 12 games in the tournament, the first of which was in Belarus on August 2.

‘It was a long journey this year and — don’t get me wrong — we enjoyed it and we were disappointed when we came out of it, but I think down the Fair Play route it (the qualifying rounds) starts even earlier,’ said Rodgers.
‘I’d prefer to be in it by qualifying through the league or winning a trophy. If it’s not that way then we are better suited to re-aligning our focus to domestic cups and the league.’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2317918/Liverpool-reject-Fair-Play-route-Europa-League.html

[Alex]

Good. Would also possibly mean we start out League cup campaign earlier, which also might mean Suarez is back a game before. Might be wrong though.

[Cormack74]

Couldn't we stick the kids out in the EL? If they get tonked then we've lost nothing and they've gained some experience and if they win then we send the big boys out in the next round.

[Leyton388]

This is staggering.

Absolutely pathetic if they are dismissing it out of hand for a pre-season ****ing tour. This club exists to win trophies. This is one. If we can get in, we should be doing it. He might just be making a rod for his own back with this Rodgers. If he does not make top 4 next year after a summer of investment and withdrawing from european competition, he could find himself in a very sticky position.

[Gibbo]

Yeah I must admit I would have took the EL.

Gives the kids some first team football, also more chance of signing players.

[Lee]

Bollocks.

Swapping the EL for a pre-season tour?!

[TheElephantMan]

I think we need to test ourselves in Europe - we're getting our priorities wrong here. Playing in the Europa League isn't where we want to be, but it's an opportunity for Rodgers to gain some experience. If our aim is to qualify for the Champions League then surely it would be advantageous for our manager to get some European experience along the way?

[Baracus]

At Rodgers. Look at 2005-2006 Season.

[little dave hedgehog]

does anyone really think this is brendan rodgers' decision to make?

i don't.

[EwarWoo]

Couldn't we stick the kids out in the EL? If they get tonked then we've lost nothing and they've gained some experience and if they win then we send the big boys out in the next round.

If we're doing it for exposure if our youngsters getting tonked teh exposure we're wanting?

If we're tring to actually win it then our youngsters getting tonked isn't really going to help either.

If we care about it we need to actually be in it not just send kids over as placeholders.

[topscorer]

This is staggering.

Absolutely pathetic if they are dismissing it out of hand for a pre-season ****ing tour. This club exists to win trophies. This is one. If we can get in, we should be doing it. He might just be making a rod for his own back with this Rodgers. If he does not make top 4 next year after a summer of investment and withdrawing from european competition, he could find himself in a very sticky position.

I agree that we should enter the EL if we can, we should take every opportunity to win a trophy.

But in all honesty I think it's maybe a bit OTT to sound so outraged by the decision, if that's the decision. How many fans go to Anfield to watch Europa games even at the group stage, never mind early qualifying rounds? We cannot lambast the club for choosing to play in front of 90,000 Aussie fans if we don't show any enthusiasm for the Europa league by selling out Anfield for the games.

[Chazza]

Bollocks.

Swapping the EL for a pre-season tour?!

We haven't swapped it though as we were not guaranteed to be in the competition anyway.

We would need to play 4 qualifying rounds in what would no doubt be the remotest places in Europe.

[Fan65]

And no more Sunday/Monday league games, back to good old Saturday afternoon Football, Hooray!!!!

[Neil Young]

Not being in Europe is less than ideal. But then so is a very early start to the season which would very likely cost us in the league later on.

It's not black and white.