Liverpool’s path to the Champions League knockout stage has been set following Thursday’s draw, unveiling the teams they’ll face under the competition’s new format.
Back in Europe’s elite competition, the Reds are navigating a revamped Champions League that sees significant changes from previous editions.
This year, the tournament features 36 teams, all competing in a single league table. Each team will play eight matches—four at home and four away—before moving on to a more familiar knockout stage. The unique twist? Liverpool’s draw pits them against eight different clubs instead of the traditional three from past group stages.
Liverpool’s schedule, determined by UEFA’s automated draw, includes fixtures against the following teams: Leipzig (away), Real Madrid (home), Bayer Leverkusen (home), AC Milan (away), Lille (home), PSV (away), Bologna (home), and Girona (away). This diverse lineup ensures the Reds will face a wide array of challenges in their quest for European glory.
Key dates for the Champions League fixtures are as follows:
- 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
The exact dates and kick-off times will be finalized on Saturday, August 31.
Under the new format, teams’ progression to the knockout rounds hinges on their league standings after these eight matches. The top eight teams will automatically advance to the last 16. Teams finishing between ninth and 24th will enter a playoff to determine the remaining eight spots. However, teams finishing 25th or lower will be eliminated from the competition entirely, with no opportunity to drop into the Europa League.
This fresh approach brings a new level of complexity to the competition, with Liverpool needing to navigate a variety of opponents to secure their place in the knockout rounds.
COMMENTS