Liverpool get tough Roma draw

Roma will get a chance to avenge their loss to Liverpool in the 1984 European Cup final. Wednesday's draw for the fourth round of the UEFA Cup paired two of Europe's biggest clubs against each other in the final 16 with the two legs set for February 15 and 22. The first leg will be played at Anfield.

Roma will get a chance to avenge their loss to Liverpool in the 1984 European Cup final. Wednesday's draw for the fourth round of the UEFA Cup paired two of Europe's biggest clubs against each other in the final 16 with the two legs set for February 15 and 22. The first leg will be played at Anfield.

The tie is easily the toughest test Liverpool have faced in this year's contest, with the Italians boasting one of the world's best players in Gabriel Batistuta.

"It'll be a very, very difficult match," said Antonio Tempestilli, Roma's sporting director. "Liverpool is one of the biggest clubs in Europe. We now will have to have our revenge from the Champions League final in 1984." Liverpool chief executive Rick Perry was just just as enthused.

"They're a very difficult team," he said. "I don't think you could get bigger than this." "(The 1984 win) was a big occasion for us but that was a long time ago. ... It's two very different games."

Barcelona were drawn against AEK Athens and in the other matchups involving Spanish sides, Celta Vigo face Stuttgart, Alaves are against '98 champions Inter Milan, and Madrid-based Rayo Vallecano play Bordeaux.

Italy's Parma, the 1999 champions, were drawn against PSV Eindhoven in the fourth round.

In two other matchups for the fourth round: FC Porto (Portugal) vs. Nantes (France) and Slavia Prague (Czech Republic) vs. Kaiserslautern (Germany). In the draw for the March 8 and 15 quarterfinals, it will be: Slavia Prague or Kaiserslautern vs. PSV Eindhoven or Parma; AEK Athens or Barcelona vs. VfB Stuttgart or Celta de Vigo; Alaves or Inter Milan vs. Rayo Vallecano or Bordeaux; FC Porto or Nantes vs. Liverpool or AS Roma. (scw)