LIVERPOOL have been spared a trip to war-torn Israel after Uefa, European football’s governing body, confirmed yesterday that the second leg of their Champions League third round qualifying tie against Maccabi Haifa will be played at a neutral venue.

Uefa has written to the Israeli FA and Haifa asking them to provide an alternative location, within a member country, for the game, to be played on August 23.

As reported in The Times last week, Haifa have already approached Dynamo Kiev about staging the match at their Lobanovsky Stadium, despite the Israeli club’s original desire to play in Tel Aviv, and Uefa is unlikely to oppose any request to host the fixture in Ukraine.

“Uefa has decided in light of the ongoing armed conflicts in and around Israel, no European competition matches can be staged in the country until further notice,” a Uefa statement read.

“The Uefa administration will continue to monitor the safety and security situation in Israel and further decisions will be made according to changes in the situation.”

Liverpool, who play Haifa in the first leg at Anfield tomorrow, have been dismayed by the time it has taken Uefa to reach a decision and face another wait to find out where the second leg will be played. Their annoyance was offset yesterday, however, by the visit of Steve McClaren, the new England head coach, to their Melwood training ground and news of Charlton Athletic’s swoop for Djimi Traoré. The French defender, signed from Laval for £750,000 in 1999, underwent a medical at Charlton yesterday and should complete a £2 million move to The Valley today.

Traorés exit is likely to pave the way for Liverpool to finally secure a deal for Dirk Kuyt, the Feyenoord and Holland forward. Rafael Benítez, the manager, has been waiting to accrue money from sales to finance a move for Kuyt and is hopeful of now concluding a deal for the Dutchman, although he is unlikely to meet Feyenoord’s £10m valuation.