Jurgen Klopp has described Liverpool's Champions League group as the strongest he has encountered since joining the club, after the draw pitted them against Porto, Atletico Madrid and Milan. The German said the group, widely labelled a 'Group of Death', would provide the sternest test of his side's European credentials in this season's competition.
Liverpool have a history of slow starts in the Champions League, having lost away group games in both their 2004-05 and 2018-19 triumphant campaigns, as well as drawing their opening match in 2006-07 when they reached the final. Klopp, however, insists this time will be different, pointing to the formidable opposition they face in a group that also includes the reigning Spanish champions, Atletico, and a resurgent Milan side.
The fixture schedule presents additional hurdles, with Premier League matches against Manchester City and Manchester United immediately following European away trips to Porto and home games against Atletico. Klopp remains unfazed, saying: "We will play unbelievable stadiums with passionate supporters. That is exactly how you want football." He previously experienced a similarly challenging group at Borussia Dortmund in 2013, which included Real Madrid and Manchester City.
Liverpool's home record under Klopp in this competition is formidable, with just one defeat in 22 matches at Anfield, and they have never lost to European heavyweights Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain in that period. Milan, by contrast, boast only two players with significant Champions League experience in their likely starting XI: Olivier Giroud and Alessandro Florenzi.
Klopp had singled out Zlatan Ibrahimovic as a player of exceptional moments, but the 40-year-old was ruled out of the trip to Anfield. Giroud is expected to lead the line instead, and although he has scored more goals against Liverpool than against most other teams, only two have come in the past five years. Virgil van Dijk will be confident of keeping him quiet as Liverpool aim to lay down an early marker in a group where finishing top could prove crucial.
