GERETS: LIVERPOOL ARE FAVOURITES

Gerets - says Reds are favourites.

Marseille coach Eric Gerets believes Champions League Group D is wide open after seeing his team given one of hardest draws possible.

OM, who beat Norwegian champions Brann Bergen 3-1 on aggregate in the third qualifying round to reach the pool stages, were pitched with Liverpool, Atletico Madrid and PSV Eindhoven in Thursday's draw in Monaco.

It looks, on paper at least, one of the toughest of the eight groups and Gerets admits there will be some celebration if the Mediterranean side are able to advance to the knockout stages.

"From the outset, Liverpool are favourites in the pool," said the Belgian, whose side were in the same Champions League group as Rafael Benitez's men last season.

"But I think Atletico are just as strong as Liverpool. And Eindhoven are going to easily win their league so we mustn't underestimate this team either.

"If we qualify, we will certainly be euphoric and we are going to enjoy ourselves."