UEFA will try to prevent a potential Champions League quarter-final involving Liverpool being played on the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough stadium disaster.

If Rafa Benitez's side beats Real Madrid in the last 16 phase, which begins next week, the second leg of the quarter-finals could fall on Wednesday 15 April.

But that is when the club wants to hold a memorial service for the 96 Liverpool fans who died after being crushed during an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest in Sheffield in 1989.

The Reds have asked European football's governing body to ensure that a match would instead by played on the Tuesday night.

"We have asked not to play on that date and that 14 April should be considered instead," a Liverpool spokesman told the club's Web site yesterday. "UEFA has replied acknowledging the significance of the date and confirming they will do their best to support our request if we progress."