Source: Daily_Mail
Everton boss David Moyes kicks off at early kick-off for Sporting Lisbon clash
Mixed emotions: David Moyes looking forward to Sporting clash but not the early start[LNB] Everton manager David Moyes has accused UEFA of diminishing the Europa League by ordering them to play the first leg of their last 32 tie against Sporting Lisbon at 5.45pm on a Tuesday.[LNB] The decision was taken before yesterday's draw because Liverpool are also at home in the competition that week and, under UEFA regulations, the club who finished higher in the Barclays Premier League last season play on the scheduled Thursday.[LNB] Moyes said: 'It's not good for the club. How do we get a full house? How do we get the stewards for the early kick-off? It's because of the Champions League that night. They want to have the Champions League exclusive.[LNB] 'They're diminishing this competition for us. They've not helped us one little bit - people with little idea about football.'[LNB] Liverpool are at home to Romanian side Unirea Urziceni, who also dropped out of the Champions League, and manager Rafa Benitez said: 'It will be tough. Unirea won the league in their country and were in a tough group with Sevilla and Stuttgart. I have some friends in Seville so maybe I'll be in touch with them.[LNB] 'But we are Liverpool and we have to have confidence.[LNB] 'It is important to have an option to win any trophy. The Europa League is different from the Champions League but there are some good teams in it.[LNB] Fulham manager Roy Hodgson believes his side have been handed one of the toughest draws by being drawn against last season's UEFA Cup winners Shakhtar Donetsk.[LNB] Hodgson said: 'We saw then what a good team they are. I have just been looking at their current squad and I think there are 13 foreign players, some of them Brazilians.' Fulham's incentive against Shakhtar is a glamour tie for the winner against Ajax or Juventus in the next round. [LNB] Andy Townsend's Boot Room: Zola doesn't need executive stressFlops Liverpool will take on Petrescu's Unirea Urziceni in the Europa LeagueEUROPA LEAGUE DRAW - Liverpool face Unirea Urziceni, Everton have Portuguese opponents Lisbon and Fulham clash with Shakhtar [LNB] [LNB]
