Liverpool’s Champions League draw could bring three first-time European trips
Liverpool supporters could be in for some unusual European adventures this season, depending on how Thursday’s Champions League draw unfolds.
At around 5pm tomorrow, the Reds will learn which eight teams they’ll face in the league phase of the tournament – a stage they topped last year in the first edition of the new format.
While clashes with familiar heavyweights such as Real Madrid (inevitable, right?), PSG and Napoli seem likely, the draw could also throw up fresh challenges against clubs making their Champions League debut.
Liverpool may meet first-time opponents in Europe
Three newcomers booked their place in the competition on Tuesday as the play-off round wrapped up. According to UEFA, each is featuring in the group stage for the first time.
Bodo/Glimt are perhaps the best-known of the trio, having become regulars on the European stage in recent years. They reached last season’s Europa League semi-finals before bowing out to eventual winners Tottenham.
Pafos, a Cypriot club founded in 2014 – the same year Joe Gomez joined Liverpool – stunned former European champions Red Star Belgrade to qualify. They only made their continental debut last season.
Kairat Almaty grabbed attention in the UK by knocking out Celtic on penalties, becoming just the second Kazakh side ever to reach the Champions League. Based only 350km from China, they represent a truly far-flung trip for any visiting fans.
Liverpool have never faced any of these debutants before, meaning potential first-time fixtures on the horizon.
Fans could be in for long-distance trips
Last season’s travel was relatively straightforward, with games in Italy, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and France. Even in the Europa League the year before, the furthest journeys were to Linz (Austria) and Prague (Czechia).
This time, though, the geography could be far less forgiving. A trip to Kairat Almaty would mean covering over 7,000km (4,350 miles) – by far the most easterly destination Liverpool could face in Europe. Meanwhile, an away tie at Bodo/Glimt would take fans inside the Arctic Circle, marking the club’s most northerly European game ever.
With both sides in different pots, it’s even possible that Liverpool could be drawn to play away against both. The format dictates two opponents from each pot (one home, one away), with a maximum of two clubs from the same national league and none from England.
Everything will be revealed in tomorrow’s draw – but thanks to Tuesday’s surprise results, Liverpool fans could be adding some truly unique stamps to their passports this season.
