Arsenal,
Liverpool and
Manchester United have been named among the top tier of seeds for the
Champions League.
But under Uefa's coefficients system, which are used to calculate each team's seedings,
Chelsea will be among the second group of eight seeded teams.
Arsenal and
Chelsea enter at the group stage, while the other three English teams face qualfying games.
Everton's lowly status - they are ranked 42nd - means they could face tough opponents in qualfying rounds.
David Moyes' side will be in the fourth and lowest group should they qualify.
Both
Everton and
Manchester United enter the competition at the third and final qualifying round - but Moyes' teams low ranking means they could face Inter Milan, Sporting Lisbon or even
Liverpool to make it into the group stage.
Arsenal and
Chelsea have automatically qualified for the group stage.
But the seeding system means
Chelsea could find themselves in a group with either Real Madrid, AC Milan, Barcelona, Inter Milan or Bayern Munich.
Jose Mourinho's team could even face
Liverpool, who have no 'country protection' after being given special admittance into the qualifying rounds of the competition to defend their trophy.
Celtic's strong ranking - 21st in the list - should guarantee them seeding for the second and final qualifying rounds - and Rangers would almost certainly be seeded as well in their qualifying round.
Liverpool have three qualifying rounds to surmount but in each round would be seeded and avoid the strongest opposition teams.
The
Champions League draw for the first qualfying round takes place on Friday.
