Steaua Bucureşti
Last season: Finished 4th in tight Romanian league title race behind champions Cluj, Unirea (who Liverpool met last season) and Vaslui.
This season: Currently 2nd in Liga I, level on points with leaders and city rivals Dinamo Bucharest. Qualified for the group stages by beating Grasshoppers Zurich on penalties after two 1-0 home wins.
Manager: Former Spurs and West Ham forward Ilie Dumitrescu, a Steaua legend who began and ended his playing career there. Took over recently from experienced former Romanian boss Victor Piturca. Dumitrescu has already had 13 jobs (mainly in Cyprus and Greece) so far in his nine year managerial career. Gained a reputation in Greece as a conservative coach who builds team on strong defence, often with two deep lying midfielders to cover the defence.
Key players: Steaua's Greek striker Pantelis Kapetanos featured at the World Cup and usually leads the line in a 4-2-3-1 system. In his third season in Romania, he has been their top scorer in both his previous campaigns. However, arguably their star player is Bogdan Stancu, 23, who plays in the hole behind Kapetanos. He contributes goals and creativity and is in excellent form with 5 goals in 6 pre-season games, having just broken into the Romania squad.
Alongside him in attacking midfield, Romanian international wingers Banel Nicolita (stripped of the club captaincy following some poor performance) and new skipper Cristian Tanase.
At the back, Nigerian fullback Emeghara (capped 3 times by his country) and Portuguese defender Geraldo Alves (older brother of international Bruno) boast European experience.
Possible side (4-2-3-1): Tatarusanu~; Latovlevici~, Geraldo, Abrudan, Emeghera; Angelov*, Stoica*; Tanase (c)*, Stancu*, Nicolita*; Kapetanos*.(*internationals/~U21)
FC Utrecht
Last season: Finished 7th in Eredvisie and qualified via the unique Dutch play-off system, where 6th to 9th placed teams play semis and finals for a spot in the Europa League qualifiers.
This season: Overturned a 2-0 defeat at Celtic with an emphatic 4-0 win in Utrecht. Currently 10th in Eredivisie after 5 games, following defeats to Feyenoord and champions Twente.
Manager: Ton du Chatinier, spent his entire playing career there and then has been youth team boss, assistant manager and now first team boss since 2008.
Key players: Experienced Danish midfielder Michael Silberbauer will face his international teammates Daniel Agger and Christian Poulsen. Striker Van Wolfswinkel was the hero against Celtic with a hat-trick.
Utrecht have two Aussie internationals: midfielder Michael Zullo and forward Thomas Oar. Ghanaian left winger Nana Asare and Dutch youngster Barry Maguire (whose Irish father earned him a call-up to Ireland's Under 21s, which he refused) are other names to look out for.
Possible team: (4-4-2): Vorm*, Nesu*/Lensky~, Vuytens/Dickoh, Schut/Keller, Cornelisse; Asare*, Silberbauer*, Maguire, Mertens; van Wolfswinkel, Oar*/Mulenga*.
S.S.C. Napoli
Last season: Finished 6th in Serie A last year, their highest finish for 16 years following a couple of spells in the lower leagues following a slump in form and bankruptcy in 2004.
This season: Qualified by beating Swedish side Elfsborg home and away, 3-0 on aggregate. Drew 1-1 at Fiorentina on the opening weekend of the Serie A season with a goal from new signing Edinson Cavani.
Manager: Walter Mazzarri, former Sampdoria boss, guided his former side to the round of 32 in 2008/09's UEFA Cup. He guided them to 3rd in the group stages behind Standard Liege and Stuttgart but above Sevilla. Suprisingly, Samp crashed out 3-0 to Ukraine's Metalist Kharkiv and despite reaching the Coppa Italia final, he was sacked and was then appointed Napoli boss last summer.
Key players: Napoli have a rich tradition of South American superstars (Maradona, Careca, Fonseca) which is being continued through Argentine winger Ezequiel Lavezzi (linked last summer with Liverpool) and record signing Uruguayan midfielder Edinson Cavani, fresh from an impressive display at the World Cup.
Alongside them Slovakian wonderkid Marek Hamsik has grabbed attention from scouts across Europe with his immense technical ability and spectacular goals. He will look forward to going head-to-head with compatriot Martin Skrtel.
At the back, former Reds fullback Andrea Dossena is showing better form in his preferred role as a wing-back in an attacking 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 formation.
Possible team (3-4-3): de Sanctis*; Aronaca, P. Cannavaro~, Campagnaro; Dossena*, Yebda*/Gargano*, Blasi/Pazienza, Maggio*; Lavezzi*, Cavani*, Hamsik*.
GROUP PREDICTIONS
LFC bt Steaua H, Utrecht H/A, draw Napoli H/A, Steaua A. Pts 12.
Napoli bt Steaua H, Utrecht H/A, draw LFC H/A, Steaua A. Pts 12.
Steaua bt Utrecht H, drew LFC H, Napoli H, lost LFC, Napoli, Utrecht A. Pts 5.
Utrecht bt Steaua H, lost LFC H/A, Napoli H/A, Steaua A. Pts 3.
Last season: Finished 4th in tight Romanian league title race behind champions Cluj, Unirea (who Liverpool met last season) and Vaslui.
This season: Currently 2nd in Liga I, level on points with leaders and city rivals Dinamo Bucharest. Qualified for the group stages by beating Grasshoppers Zurich on penalties after two 1-0 home wins.
Manager: Former Spurs and West Ham forward Ilie Dumitrescu, a Steaua legend who began and ended his playing career there. Took over recently from experienced former Romanian boss Victor Piturca. Dumitrescu has already had 13 jobs (mainly in Cyprus and Greece) so far in his nine year managerial career. Gained a reputation in Greece as a conservative coach who builds team on strong defence, often with two deep lying midfielders to cover the defence.
Key players: Steaua's Greek striker Pantelis Kapetanos featured at the World Cup and usually leads the line in a 4-2-3-1 system. In his third season in Romania, he has been their top scorer in both his previous campaigns. However, arguably their star player is Bogdan Stancu, 23, who plays in the hole behind Kapetanos. He contributes goals and creativity and is in excellent form with 5 goals in 6 pre-season games, having just broken into the Romania squad.
Alongside him in attacking midfield, Romanian international wingers Banel Nicolita (stripped of the club captaincy following some poor performance) and new skipper Cristian Tanase.
At the back, Nigerian fullback Emeghara (capped 3 times by his country) and Portuguese defender Geraldo Alves (older brother of international Bruno) boast European experience.
Possible side (4-2-3-1): Tatarusanu~; Latovlevici~, Geraldo, Abrudan, Emeghera; Angelov*, Stoica*; Tanase (c)*, Stancu*, Nicolita*; Kapetanos*.(*internationals/~U21)
FC Utrecht
Last season: Finished 7th in Eredvisie and qualified via the unique Dutch play-off system, where 6th to 9th placed teams play semis and finals for a spot in the Europa League qualifiers.
This season: Overturned a 2-0 defeat at Celtic with an emphatic 4-0 win in Utrecht. Currently 10th in Eredivisie after 5 games, following defeats to Feyenoord and champions Twente.
Manager: Ton du Chatinier, spent his entire playing career there and then has been youth team boss, assistant manager and now first team boss since 2008.
Key players: Experienced Danish midfielder Michael Silberbauer will face his international teammates Daniel Agger and Christian Poulsen. Striker Van Wolfswinkel was the hero against Celtic with a hat-trick.
Utrecht have two Aussie internationals: midfielder Michael Zullo and forward Thomas Oar. Ghanaian left winger Nana Asare and Dutch youngster Barry Maguire (whose Irish father earned him a call-up to Ireland's Under 21s, which he refused) are other names to look out for.
Possible team: (4-4-2): Vorm*, Nesu*/Lensky~, Vuytens/Dickoh, Schut/Keller, Cornelisse; Asare*, Silberbauer*, Maguire, Mertens; van Wolfswinkel, Oar*/Mulenga*.
S.S.C. Napoli
Last season: Finished 6th in Serie A last year, their highest finish for 16 years following a couple of spells in the lower leagues following a slump in form and bankruptcy in 2004.
This season: Qualified by beating Swedish side Elfsborg home and away, 3-0 on aggregate. Drew 1-1 at Fiorentina on the opening weekend of the Serie A season with a goal from new signing Edinson Cavani.
Manager: Walter Mazzarri, former Sampdoria boss, guided his former side to the round of 32 in 2008/09's UEFA Cup. He guided them to 3rd in the group stages behind Standard Liege and Stuttgart but above Sevilla. Suprisingly, Samp crashed out 3-0 to Ukraine's Metalist Kharkiv and despite reaching the Coppa Italia final, he was sacked and was then appointed Napoli boss last summer.
Key players: Napoli have a rich tradition of South American superstars (Maradona, Careca, Fonseca) which is being continued through Argentine winger Ezequiel Lavezzi (linked last summer with Liverpool) and record signing Uruguayan midfielder Edinson Cavani, fresh from an impressive display at the World Cup.
Alongside them Slovakian wonderkid Marek Hamsik has grabbed attention from scouts across Europe with his immense technical ability and spectacular goals. He will look forward to going head-to-head with compatriot Martin Skrtel.
At the back, former Reds fullback Andrea Dossena is showing better form in his preferred role as a wing-back in an attacking 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 formation.
Possible team (3-4-3): de Sanctis*; Aronaca, P. Cannavaro~, Campagnaro; Dossena*, Yebda*/Gargano*, Blasi/Pazienza, Maggio*; Lavezzi*, Cavani*, Hamsik*.
GROUP PREDICTIONS
LFC bt Steaua H, Utrecht H/A, draw Napoli H/A, Steaua A. Pts 12.
Napoli bt Steaua H, Utrecht H/A, draw LFC H/A, Steaua A. Pts 12.
Steaua bt Utrecht H, drew LFC H, Napoli H, lost LFC, Napoli, Utrecht A. Pts 5.
Utrecht bt Steaua H, lost LFC H/A, Napoli H/A, Steaua A. Pts 3.
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