Benitez looking forward to Euro tests

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is eagerly awaiting his side’s Champions League campaign after the Reds were drawn against Lyon, Fiorentina and Debreceni on Thursday.

Benitez believes the draw poses interesting tests and he can’t wait to pit his wits against the French, Italian and Hungarian teams because the Anfield club have never faced any of their Group E opponents before.

Lyon failed to win the French league for the first time in eight years last season but have spent big money during the close-season, while Fiorentina are back in Europe’s elite club competition after beating Sporting Lisbon in the qualifying round.

Debreceni, champions of Hungry, are making their Champions League debut.

“You know in the Champions League there will always be difficult games and tough teams to play against,” Benitez told Liverpool’s website.

“Lyon might not have won the league last season but before that they won it many years in a row, so we know they have lots of good players who can play good football.

“Fiorentina are an historic club in a nice city. I know from experience they have fantAstic supporters because I spent some time there when Claudio Ranieri was the coach.

“And we have experience of Hungarian football because of our relationship with MTK (Liverpool have signed a number of youth team players from the Budapest team), so if Debrecen have won their league then we know it means it’s because they’re a good side.

“The important thing as always is that the travelling isn’t too bad, we don’t have too far to go for any of the games. We’re just looking forward to starting the competition now.”