Ton du Chatinier admits Liverpool pose far more difficult Europa League opposition to FC Utrecht than the Celtic team disposed of earlier in the competition. Utrecht dispatched Celtic 4-0 on home turf in their Europa League play-off, having been 2-0 down from the first leg at Parkhead.

Liverpool may currently be struggling in the Barclays Premier League but they have not lost to Dutch opposition since their first encounter in 1966 when Ajax won 5-0 in Amsterdam.

Utrecht have explored every avenue available to them in their preparations, including assistant manager Jan Wouters calling in a favour from his former Rangers boss and current Birmingham manager Alex McLeish.

"Liverpool are a better team than Celtic, with all respect," said the Utrecht boss.

"We have asked people in England and Jan has spoken to Alex McLeish.

"We've watched Liverpool's home game against Steaua Bucharest (a 4-1 win) and the match at Manchester United (a 3-2 defeat)."