Who Liverpool can and cannot draw in the Champions League group stage
Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images

Who Liverpool can and cannot draw in the Champions League group stage

Liverpool will soon learn their Champions League group stage opponents at the draw scheduled to take place on Thursday, October 1 in Nyon, Switzerland.

In terms of seeding, Pot 1 is reserved for domestic champions and the Champions League and Europa League winners, which ensures Liverpool will be in Pot 1.

Of the sides in Pot 1, Liverpool will safely avoid the likes of Real Madrid, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Sevilla, Zenit St Petersburg, Porto and Paris Saint Germain.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – APRIL 04: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on April 4, 2018 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Country protection ensures Liverpool cannot face Manchester City, Manchester United or Chelsea, however, Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League winners could be paired against either Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Borussia Dortmund or Ajax.

Six places in the group stages are still to be confirmed, with the third qualifying round concluding this week before a two-legged final play-off later this month.

MUNICH, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 09: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Dayot Upamecano of RB Leipzig looks on during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and RB Leipzig at Allianz Arena on February 9, 2020 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Roland Krivec/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Pots 3 and 4 to be determined

Pots 3 and 4 are not finalised yet, with the qualification process still ongoing.

Arguably the most dangers of the confirmed Pot 3 or 4 opponents are RB Leipzig, who were beaten in the semi-final stages of the competition last season.

High-octane 2020 quarter-finalists Atalanta could lie in wait for Liverpool while Antonio Conte and Inter Milan are also a possibility.

Of the teams already qualified, a preferred draw for Liverpool could see them face Ajax, Lazio and Rennes while a far more difficult proposition could see the Reds aligned with Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan or Marseille.

 

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