Liverpool are again within the Champions League this season as a part of the new-look event. Right here’s all that you must know forward of Thursday’s league section draw.
After a season within the Europa League the Reds are again in Europe’s prime tier, however it isn’t the identical as once they final performed in it.
This marketing campaign will convey the primary of an expanded 36-team Champions League, together with a ‘Swiss fashion’ league section changing the same old group stage.
Which means all 36 groups in a single league section, with every enjoying eight fixtures, earlier than breaking off for a extra conventional knockout stage.
Right here is all the pieces that you must know in regards to the Champions League‘s league section draw.
When is the draw?
The Champions League draw will happen in Monaco from 5pm (BST) on Thursday and shall be broadcast dwell on UEFA.com, in addition to YouTube, TNT Sports activities and BBC Sport.
Who might Liverpool play?
Liverpool are in Pot 1 and shall be drawn in opposition to two groups from every of the next pots:
Pot 1: Actual Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Barcelona
Pot 2: Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta, Juventus, Benfica, Membership Brugge, Shakhtar Donetsk, AC Milan
Pot 3: Feyenoord, Sporting CP, PSV Eindhoven, Purple Bull Salzburg, Younger Boys, Celtic, Dinamo Zagreb, Lille, Purple Star Belgrade
Pot 4: Monaco, Sparta Prague, Bologna, Girona, Stuttgart, Sturm Graz, Brest, Slovan Bratislava
4 opponents shall be performed at house and 4 away, with no repeat fixtures.
They can’t play groups from their very own affiliation within the league section, which guidelines out Arsenal, Aston Villa and Man Metropolis.
Every membership can play a most of two sides from the identical affiliation (eg. Liverpool couldn’t be drawn in opposition to Actual Madrid, Barcelona and Girona).
Why are there extra video games?
This season is the primary for the Champions League‘s new format.
There are 36 groups concerned within the league section and progress to the same old knockout rounds shall be decided by every membership’s league putting after their eight video games.
The highest eight groups within the 36-team league will go straight into the final 16, with the remaining eight locations decided by 16 playoffs between the perimeters who completed between ninth and twenty fourth.
How will the draw happen?
This season’s draw shall be completely different to standard, with all 36 groups drawn out manually earlier than their eight fixtures are decided by AI.
These opponents shall be drawn at random by UEFA’s automated software program, in addition to figuring out who performs who at house and away.
Golf equipment from Pot 1 would be the first drawn, which means Liverpool shall be amongst these to be taught their opponents first.
Golf equipment shall be drawn to play eight completely different groups – a major change from the three group stage opponents within the outdated group stage format – with 4 house video games and 4 away video games randomly assigned.
Champions League key dates
Fixtures will truly be confirmed on Saturday, however listed here are the dates for the matchdays:
League draw – August 29
Matchday 1: September 17-19
Matchday 2: October 1/2
Matchday 3: October 22/23
Matchday 4: November 5/6
Matchday 5: November 26/27
Matchday 6: December 10/11
Matchday 7: January 21/22
Matchday 8: January 29
Play-off draw – January 31
Knockout play-offs: February 11/12 and 18/19
Final 16/quarter-final/semi-final draw – February 21
Final 16: March 4/5 and 11/12
Quarter-final: April 8/9 and 15/16
Semi-final: April 29/30 and Might 6/7
Closing: Might 31 (Munich)
