LIVERPOOL ARE due to start a 12-hour journey by train and plane to Madrid today after Uefa said their Europa League semi-final against Atletico, and Fulham’s first leg at Hamburg, should take place as scheduled on Thursday.
Despite concerns over the travel chaos caused by the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud, articulated by both clubs to European football’s governing body, Uefa refused to delay the ties. Liverpool now face an arduous journey to the Spanish capital, although not as gruelling as initially feared.
Rafael Benitez’s squad will travel by train from Merseyside to London this afternoon and then take the Eurostar to Paris, where they will stay overnight. Tomorrow morning Liverpool will travel to Bordeaux, again by train, before completing their journey with a short flight to Madrid.
A decision has not been made on the return trip and Liverpool hope the gradual reopening of British airspace will allow for a flight home. There is a slight chance that the relaxation of the no-fly zones will enable Liverpool to fly to Madrid from Stansted airport as planned, although a decision will not be taken until this afternoon.
Despite the uncertainty over their return from Spain, Liverpool accept they must fulfil their Premier League fixture at Burnley on Sunday.
There is also no suggestion that Fulham’s league game at Everton on the same day will be postponed and the club remains in the dark over whether supporters’ flights to Hamburg will depart as scheduled.
Fernando Torres, meanwhile, is optimistic he will be fit for the World Cup and has been reassured of his place in Spain’s squad by the national team’s sporting director, Fernando Hierro. The Liverpool striker will miss the rest of the domestic season, having undergone surgery to repair a torn meniscus on Sunday night.
Liverpool expect the striker to be absent for six weeks, leaving him a fortnight to get fit before Spain’s opening World Cup game on June 16th.
“I have to be positive,” said the Spanish striker. Torres also said safeguarding his international place was not the overriding factor in the decision to operate again. “It’s not true. We exhausted all the possibilities before arriving at the final one.”
Guardian Service
Today’s Fixtures
(7.45 unless stated)
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE– Semi-final, first leg: Inter Milan v Barcelona.
AIRTRICITY LEAGUE OF IRELAND– Premier Division: Bray Wanderers v St Patrick's Ath.
ENGLISH LEAGUE- Championship: QPR v Watford (8.0); Scunthorpe v Reading. League One: Brentford v Tranmere; Southampton v Oldham. League Two: Cheltenham v Darlington; Notts County v Rochdale.
SCOTTISH LEAGUE- First Division: Queen of South v Ross County. Second Division: Brechin v Cowdenbeath; Clyde v Stirling. Third Division: Forfar v Stranraer; Queens Park v Albion (7.30).
IRISH LEAGUE– Premiership: Portadown v Crusaders; Coleraine v Glenavon; Newry v Ballymena.
