Liverpool's summer tour of the USA could be scuppered over their Europa League qualification.

The Carling Cup winners have pencilled in a trip to the States for the end of July - and were hoping to play three fixtures.

But unless boss Kenny Dalglish leads them to the FA Cup or fifth in the Premier League, their Europa League games will start in the qualifiers.

That would leave them with just three days between the end of their US trip and the first competitive game of the next campaign.