EUROPE’S GIANTS TO BEGIN ASSAULT Liverpool open against Napoli while Barca face Dortmund

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Paris, Sept. 16: While the battle for the Champions League of the future is fought behind the scenes, this week the continent’s biggest clubs begin their latest quest for European glory with holders Liverpool dreaming of reaching another final in Istanbul.

The current 32-team group stage format leading to a knockout round of 16 was introduced in 2003. Since then, an ever smaller group of clubs has competed to win the trophy, with the last 15 champions coming from Spain, England, Germany or Italy.

There is a consensus that it is time for a change, and the European Club Association, chaired by Juventus chief Andrea Agnelli, has been busy working with Uefa on plans to completely revamp the competition from 2024.

Moves towards even more of a closed shop for the elite have stalled because of dissent from some clubs and from domestic leagues, but change is coming.

“We are confident of finding a good format for after 2024 that includes of course the big clubs, mid-size countries and also a possibility for, let’s say, the smaller countries but also with history to find their place in t h e European football scene,” said Ajax

C E O Edwin van der Sar last week. Of course Ajax have extra determination to ensure their voice is heard. The Dutch champions enchanted Europe on their run to the semifinals last season but entered this season’s tournament in the third qualifying round. There was no special treatment for them.

KLOPP EXPECTS DAUNTING RIDE Jurgen Klopp has warned Liverpool that retaining the Champions League will be even harder than their incredible march to victory i n Madrid last season. Klopp’s side start their bid to win a seventh European Cup with a trip to Napoli for their Group E opener on Tuesday.

The Reds have reached the last two Champions League finals, beating Tottenham in the Spanish capital in June after losing to Real Madrid 12 months earlier.

But Klopp believes Liverpool face a daunting task to make it to the final in Istanbul’s Ataturk Stadium — a venue which carries extra

resonance for the club after they won the 2005 Champions League with an astonishing comeback against AC Milan in the same stadium.

Napoli are expected to pose the sternest test to Liverpool in a group which also includes unfancied Salzburg and Genk.

CHELSEA UP AGAINST VALENCIA It is a sign of the changed days at Stamford Bridge that Chelsea go into a Champions League clash with Valencia as the example of stability and long-term planning.

The Europa League winners return to

European football’s