July 5, 1977
Liverpool have received a bye in the first round of the European Cup, made to-day in Zurich. Entry for the competition was cut to 31 instead of the usual 32 because of the dispute affecting the Albanian entry, which was not accepted by the UEFA. As holders, Liverpool were awarded the bye.
Although they are automatically through to the second round, to be played next October, the comfort of this has to be weighed against the loss of revenue from a first round match. And this would have been a “comfortable” draw as the holders are seeded.
The beaten finalists, Borussia Mönchengladbach, have drawn a tough one in Vasas (Budapest), the Hungarian champions, while Celtic, as Scottish champions have an easy tie against Jeunesse d-Esch, of Luxembourg, whom Liverpool beat in the first round of the European Cup four years ago.
Eire champions Sligo Rovers meet Red Star Belgrade and can say goodbye to the competition immediately after that. Glentoran, the Northern Ireland entry, were last out of the hat and stand a chance by being drawn against Valur of Reykjavik, the Icelandic champions.
Possibly the most interesting draw in all three European competitions concerned Manchester United in the Cup Winners’ Cup. They meet St. Etienne, Liverpool’s toughest opponents in last season’s triumphant march in the European Cup.
In the UEFA Cup League runners-up Manchester City play the crack Polish club Widzew Lodz, Ipswich meet the Swedes of Landskrona, Aston Villa have to travel to Istanbul to face Fenerbache and Newcastle United have the easy trip to Dublin to meet Bohemians.
(Source: Liverpool Echo: July 5, 1977; via http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) © 2018 Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited
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