Liverpool return to the Champions League under Andoni Iraola, who will manage in Europe for the first time. The Reds' dreams of a seventh European Cup were ended by PSG in both of the last two seasons, as the French heavyweights went on to win the tournament back-to-back.
Given the Merseyside club's pedigree, Iraola will be eager to make a strong first impression on the UEFA tournament. That pedigree means Liverpool are in Pot 1, and Express Sport have predicted how their draw will pan out.
Home Tests Against Dortmund and Atletico
Borussia Dortmund (H) would be a glamorous match in Liverpool's first Champions League game since April. The Reds have not faced Dortmund since an iconic 4-3 victory knocked the Germans out of the Europa League under Jurgen Klopp in 2016. Though Bayern Munich continue to dominate the Bundesliga, Dortmund boast some top-quality players, and this match could see Emre Can return to Anfield, though the captain is still recovering from an ACL injury.
Atletico Madrid (H) is a team Liverpool feel they run into regularly. The Reds defeated Atletico 3-2 at Anfield last season under Arne Slot and have beaten the Spaniards in each of their last three meetings since that infamous 3-2 extra-time defeat to Diego Simeone's men in the round of 16 six years ago. Atleti are notoriously difficult to face and have a host of match winners, namely the Arsenal and Barcelona-linked Julian Alvarez. This would be a clash of styles and a tricky test for Iraola.
Difficult Away Trips
Roma (A) is another club with plenty of European pedigree. Liverpool beat Roma in the final to win this competition in 1984 and defeated the Italians 7-6 on aggregate in the 2018 semi-finals to reach their first final under Klopp. The two sides have not met since, and a trip to the Stadio Olimpico would be a mouthwatering prospect for Iraola's first European away. Roma finished third in Serie A last season and have the likes of Manu Kone, Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala in their squad.
Bodo/Glimt (A) were the big surprise of last season's Champions League, drawing with Tottenham and beating Manchester City at home. They also beat Atletico Madrid away and Inter Milan home and away en route to the round of 16. They thrashed Sporting 3-0 at home before succumbing to a 5-0 away defeat. This would represent a nightmare away trip given it is an artificial turf pitch at a stadium situated above the Arctic Circle. In this predicted draw, the match would come on October 20-21, when the average temperature is as low as three degrees, and it can be particularly windy.
AEK Athens (A) is a club Liverpool have not faced since 1972 and have never played in the Champions League before. They would represent another lengthy away trip after they hammered Levski Sofia to qualify for the league phase. The Greeks would greet Liverpool with a ferocious atmosphere and have Domagoj Vida, the former Croatia centre-back partner of Dejan Lovren, in their squad as well as ex-Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic. This is another potential banana skin.
Final Challenge Against Barcelona
LASK (H) pulled off an extraordinary comeback against Celtic in the qualifiers. From 4-0 down on aggregate, LASK won their second leg 5-1. Liverpool actually faced LASK in the Europa League groups under Klopp in 2023, winning 4-0 at home. This would be one Iraola's men need to win to finish in the top eight and qualify automatically for the round of 16.
Fenerbahce (H) have never faced Liverpool, despite the Reds taking on Galatasaray and Besiktas on numerous occasions. The Turkish Super Lig giants knocked out Lyon to qualify and only finished three points behind bitter rivals Galatasaray in the title race last season. Since then, they have invested heavily in their squad, signing Mason Greenwood, Nathan Ake and Romelu Lukaku this summer. Matteo Guendouzi and Ederson are two of the other familiar names in their squad, which has enough quality to pull off an Anfield upset.
The trickiest match of them all comes last in the predicted draw. Barcelona (A) have not played Liverpool since that unforgettable 4-0 comeback win at Anfield in 2019. Barca are five-time European Cup winners and boast several extraordinary players like Rodri, Lamine Yamal and Pedri. This match would also see Anthony Gordon go up against the team he supported as a boy. While Liverpool lost 3-0 on their last trip to the Nou Camp, in a match where the scoreline was not reflective of the 90 minutes, Liverpool have not lost any of their other four visits to Barca's home ground, winning two and drawing two. There's no hiding that this would be an almighty challenge, unless Barca already have a top-eight spot secured.
Liverpool's predicted Champions League draw in full: Borussia Dortmund (H), Roma (A), Bodo/Glimt (A), Atletico Madrid (H), LASK (H), AEK Athens (A), Fenerbahce (H), Barcelona (A).
