Liverpool is looking forward to the draw for the knockout stage now that the Champions League final 16 has been determined.
The Reds will learn their possible path to this season’s final at the Allianz Arena in Munich starting at 11 a.m. on Friday. After the first league phase, Liverpool won all but one of their eight games and finished first in the standings.
They were directly qualified to the round of 16, and seven additional teams joined them in January as a result. Wednesday saw the conclusion of an additional play-off round that determined the other eight teams.
Now, Liverpool supporters are attempting to predict both the best and worst outcomes for the draw. Since one of Arne Slot’s teams or Barcelona, who placed second in the table, will play either Paris Saint-Germain or Benfica in the round of 16, they already know their first set of potential opponents.
After defeating fellow French team Brest 10-0 on aggregate in their play-off match, PSG is regarded as the stronger of the two. Benfica, the Portuguese powerhouses, advanced despite a late scare against Monaco.
Liverpool’s possible opponents for the quarterfinals, semifinal, and final will be predetermined by the draw on Friday, which will also confirm which side of the draw the Reds are on. Slot’s team could face four opponents in the round of eight if they defeat PSG or Benfica.
Borussia Dortmund, Aston Villa, Club Brugge, or Lille would be the teams Liverpool would play. Given that Dortmund advanced to the Premier League final last year and that Villa, led by European specialist Unai Emery, held Liverpool to a 2-2 draw in the league on Wednesday, Reds supporters would probably be more optimistic about their chances against Lille or play-off winners Brugge.
However, Brugge barely made it to the play-offs with a dismal 24th-place finish, and those two were separated by an enormous 17 spots in the table. However, Lille finished seventh, notably surpassing Real Madrid, the defending champions. In the league phase, they also lost by a slim margin of 2-1 to Liverpool at Anfield, and that was with ten men.
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Real Madrid may be their opponent in the semi-finals after Liverpool defeated them 2-0 earlier this season.
Given that Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, Arsenal, Feyenoord, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and PSV Eindhoven are all involved, the semi-finals would be a more difficult test. Slot’s previous team, Feyenoord, defeated AC Milan in the playoffs after finishing last in the league.
After Barcelona and Liverpool, Premier League rivals Arsenal were the best of the rest. Inter, Atletico, and Leverkusen came in fourth, fifth, and sixth place, respectively, behind the Gunners in third place. If Liverpool advances to the final on Saturday, May 31, they may play Barca in addition to any of the aforementioned teams.
After the last-16 draw, there will be another draw to decide who gets to play at home first in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
Liverpool’s dream route to the Champions League final
Last 16: Benfica
Quarter-finals: Club Brugge
Semi-finals: Feyenoord
Liverpool’s nightmare route to the Champions League final
- Last 16: Paris Saint-Germain
- Quarter-finals: Aston Villa
- Semi-finals: Real Madrid