For the rest of you that follow the Champions League...

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=335286&cc=5901

quote:

---

Liverpool will be allowed to defend their Champions League trophy next season and the rules have been changed to ensure the holders will always qualify for the following season's competition, UEFA said on Friday.

---

So who's getting bumped?

if you read the article, it looks like no one will get bumped because they mention that Everton will still be included.

quote:

---

It means that England will have five representatives in the competition -- champions Chelsea, runners-up Arsenal, Manchester United, Everton and Liverpool. It is the first time any country has had more than four representatives and, according to UEFA, will be the last.

---

I take that to mean that if these rules were in place before last season, then Everton would not be invited...but since they just now put the new rules in place, no one will get bumped.

I know it says Everton will be included this time, but that the rule will change so that in a future situation such as this, Everton would NOT go the next year.

So is someone else getting bumped? If not, don't they have to restructure the competition?

good question. it doesn't say exactly, but it does mention "Liverpool will have to play six qualifying matches just to reach the qualifying stage of the Champions League." I'm sure this leads to the qualifiers being restructured somehow.

Also, according to the SkySports article - http://footballmsn.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=283610&CPID=5&CLID=&lid=2&title=Liverpool+handed+CL+place&channel=Football_Home, Man City was hoping Liverpool's promotion to the CL would open up a spot in the UEFA Cup for them...but UEFA's William Gaillard said no.

quote:

---

Manchester City had been hoping Liverpool's participation in the Champions League would free up a Uefa Cup spot but Gaillard has now poured cold water on this suggestion.

"Man City don't get a place. As you can see from the list, we transferred Liverpool from the Uefa Cup but kept the number of clubs in European competitions stable."

---

I find it interesting this outcry about letting the champions defend their title comes a few years after FIFA decided to make the World Cup champions qualify for the next World Cup.

"I feel like we have some unfinished business." - Chris Walker
On the bandwagon since birth. Raised in the bleachers of Kyle, Olsen, and G. Rollie White

The two situations aren't exactly the same. Brazil is at least given an opportunity to defend their title, they just have to go through the qualifying rounds. Liverpool, on the other hand wouldn't have even been able to participate. A similar situation would be if Brazil wasn't even allowed to participate in the CONMEBOL qualifying rounds of the World Cup because they didn't finish in the top four of the Copa America (that is the name of South America's continental tournament, right?)

I disagree. The Copa America and World Cup qualifying aren't linked like the Premiership and the Champions League are. Liverpool had their chance to qualify for next year's competition. They just didn't do it.

"I feel like we have some unfinished business." - Chris Walker
On the bandwagon since birth. Raised in the bleachers of Kyle, Olsen, and G. Rollie White

touche