Champions League Group A prospects

A look at the prospects for Deportivo Coruna, Liverpool, Monaco and Olympiakos in Group A of the Champions League this season:

DEPORTIVO CORUNA (SPAIN)

Deportivo secured themselves a place in European football's elite club competition for the fifth successive season after an edgy victory over Irish champions Shelbourne in the qualifying round, but they will have their work cut out if they want to repeat the success of last season when they reached the semi-finals.

The Galicians are the only one of the four Spanish representatives not to have strengthened their squad since last season and may struggle to cope with the burden of domestic and European fixtures.

Coach Javier Irureta still has a well-drilled and compact outfit at his disposal, but they have become over-reliant on playmaker Juan Carlos Valeron to create danger up front and look lost for ideas when the Spanish international is not on song.

Irureta will be hoping that striker Diego Tristan can recover his form of three seasons ago when he was La Liga's leading scorer so that he can keep Uruguayan centre forward Walter Pandiani on his toes.

COMMENT: Coach Javier Irureta: "It's going to be a very complicated group and it will be hard to get through. To make it tougher the French and the English have got a head start in their domestic leagues. The key will be getting off to a good start against Olympiakos in the first game at the Riazor."

LIVERPOOL (ENGLAND)

Liverpool were lucky to earn a qualifying spot after a fight to finish fourth last season.

They missed out on the Champions League last season and also failed to go beyond the last 16 of the UEFA Cup, but will be hoping to fare better after replacing coach Gerard Houllier with Rafael Benitez, who led Valencia to UEFA Cup glory in May.

England striker Michael Owen has left the club to join Real Madrid, but Liverpool have retained their inspirational captain, England midfielder Steven Gerrard, who had been linked with a move to Chelsea in the close season.

Benitez has also signed four Spaniards in midfielders Xavi Alonso and Antonio Nunez, winger Luis Garcia and defender Josemi, while the club will be hoping new 14 million pound ($24.98 million) French striker Djibril Cisse is a worthy replacement for Owen.

COMMENT: Chief Executive Rick Parry: "We've avoided some of the lengthier trips which is always an advantage and Rafa will know all about Deportivo. I think we have the ability, the players and the squad to make an impression this season."

MONACO (FRANCE)

Monaco return to the Champions League intent on proving that reaching last season's final was not a flash in the pan.

Didier Deschamps' side left their mark on last year's competition, crushing Deportivo Coruna 8-3 in the group phase, stunning nine-times winner Real Madrid in the quarter-finals and ousting Chelsea in the semi before bowing to Porto in the final. Deschamps has had to rebuild his team after losing strikers Fernando Morientes and Dado Prso and midfielders Ludovic Giuly and Jerome Rothen during the close season.

Uruguayan Ernesto Chevanton signed from Serie A's Lecce was prolific in Italy and will be one of the new faces to watch out for.

COMMENT: Defender Sebastien Squillaci: "Liverpool are one of the great European clubs. It's never easy to play away in Greece but at least we know Deportivo. They were our opponents last year and all went well when we beat them 8-3 at home."

OLYMPIAKOS

Olympiakos go into the competition with a distincly Brazilian flavor after adding former Player of the Year Rivaldo to their ranks.

The veteran attacker joins compatriot and former Barcelona teammate Giovanni in a bid to get beyond the group stages for the first time in five seasons.

Back at the helm is Serbian coach Dusan Bajevic who is the last man to see them into the quarter finals .

In addition to the big-name Brazilian, last season's Greek runners-up have brought in Argentine defender Gabriel Sura and Cypriot forward Yannakis Okkas.

Olympiakos will be counting on Greece's Euro 2004 winning golakeeper Antonis Nikopolidis to shore up a defense that has been leaky away from home in Europe. COMMENT: Coach Dusan Bajevic: "Liverpool have lots of new players and a new coach and we don't know how they will be exactly. Monaco and Deportivo La Coruna are two teams we know, difficult teams that play good soccer.

"We don't underestimate anyone, but we go into the competition believing we can reach the next round."