Liverpool
and Rangers will meet in a battle of Britain in the Champions League after
being paired in Group A.
The Scottish side, who overcame PSV on Wednesday to qualify for the group
stages, will face the Reds for the first time in a competitive match, as
well as group games against Dutch champions Ajax and Italian side Napoli.
Erling Haaland will get a speedy reunion with former club Borussia Dortmund
after Manchester City, last season's beaten semi-finalists, were drawn
against the German club, Sevilla and FC Copenhagen in Group G.
Chelsea will come up against former defender Fikayo Tomori after the 2021
winners were paired with AC Milan in Group E. Thomas Tuchel's side will also
face Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb and will be favourites to progress to the
knockout stage.
Tottenham, finalists in 2019 and back in the competition for the first time
since 2020, were handed a favourable looking draw alongside Europa League
winners Eintracht Frankfurt, Sporting Lisbon, and Marseille in Group D.
Scottish champions Celtic will face Champions League holders Real Madrid in
a glamour tie in Group F, along with matches against RB Leipzig and Shakhtar
Donetsk as they return to the group stage for the first time since 2017.
Champions League group-stage draw in full
Group A: Ajax, Liverpool, Napoli, Rangers.
Group B: Porto, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Club Brugge.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Inter Milan, V Plzen.
Group D: Frankfurt, Tottenham, Sporting, Marseille.
Group E: AC Milan, Chelsea, Salzburg, Dinamo Zagreb.
Group F: Real Madrid, Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk, Celtic.
Group G: Man City, Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund, Copenhagen.
Group H: PSG, Juventus, Benfica, Maccabi Haifa.
Klopp: A proper challenge
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp speaking to the club's website:
"The first thing to say is this is a proper, proper challenge. All of the
clubs have quality, they all have pedigree and I would say they all have a
chance. The good thing is that we do also, so it makes sense for us to look
forward to the challenge and give it a try.
"We did not ask for any favours and we have not been given any but this is
not a competition where you can look for easy ways through because the
standard is always unbelievably high.
"The difference this year is that the group stage will be shorter than
usual, so we will have to be ready not just for the quality of the
opposition but also for the different demands and rhythms.
"Rangers are a new opponent for us but we know them, too. Their story over
the last few years has been really interesting and they did really, really
well to qualify for the group stage, given the teams they were up against in
the qualifying matches.
"We also know a couple of their players well. Ryan Kent has had a great
development since moving to Scotland and Ben Davies is just starting out on
his journey with Rangers, so it will be good to come up against them."
Boyd: Liverpool Group A favourites |
Rangers have a chance of progressing
Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd speaking on Sky Sports News:
"I think when you get to this stage of the competition you are just
delighted to be there.
"To draw Liverpool, a battle of Britain, I'm sure the boys will be looking
forward to it. It's a great occasion for Rangers to be back in the elite
level of European competition after a long time away from it. Confidence was
built from a brilliant run last year [to the Europa League final], but with
Ajax and Napoli as well it makes for a great group.
"When you look at some of the groups - it could have been a lot worse, but
it will be difficult. With Ajax Calvin Bassey will be going back to Ibrox as
well, so soon after leaving for that massive transfer fee, so I'm sure he's
looking forward to that. Liverpool will be a great occasion with two clubs
with great history going head to head, I'm sure that will be one everyone is
tuning in for. Napoli were third last year in Serie A and have started the
season really well. You would expect Liverpool to win the group and the rest
we will wait and see what happens, but Rangers will be in there with a
fighting chance.
"We have heard some top-class players speak about Champions League nights in
Glasgow, at Ibrox and Celtic Park. It stays with you forever. They are two
special stadiums that generate some amount of noise and atmosphere. I'm sure
Rangers will be looking forward to welcoming the teams they have got coming
because it's been a long time. Everyone's spoken about what the atmosphere
did in the Europa League, we saw it again against Union to knock them out of
the Champions League qualifiers so I think it can play a big part. The
players though, especially at Liverpool, are used to playing in a big
atmosphere so the Rangers fans will just be looking forward to hearing that
Champions League song once again because it's been a long, long time
coming."
Jenz: Celtic Park atmosphere gives us a
chance vs Real Madrid
Celtic defender Moritz Jenz speaking on Sky Sports News:
"Obviously it's a fantastic draw. To get the reigning champions of the
Champions League to come to Celtic Park I think is something the fans have
been dreaming about. Everybody knows Real Madrid, they are the big ones in
the Champions League and it will be great. At home at Celtic Park with all
the atmosphere we are looking forward to it.
"I think it will be a difficult game, but we will work hard, we will do our
best and I think with the atmosphere at home we will have a chance.
"It's a very interesting group and a very competitive group. They are all
very good teams, but we will focus and work hard. I think we should have
respect for the other teams. They are all fantastic teams and it'll be
difficult, but we know we will have our chances and we will take them.
"I am looking forward to it a lot because I have been hearing from the other
players about the Champions League nights at Celtic Park. I've been watching
the games on YouTube, Barcelona for example. I just can't wait to hear the
anthem of the Champions League and the big roar before it. It'll be amazing
and I'm looking forward to it. I think it's unimaginable, you have to be
here and it will be fantastic.
"We will play our way, our attacking football, be brave and do our best. I
think it's a dream of every player [to score in the Champions League] and if
I have the chance I will do it and celebrate as much as I can."
Champions League draw in numbers
8 - Man City have won each of their last eight Champions League home games
against German opponents; those eight games have seen a combined 39 goals,
with City scoring 30 and conceding nine.
3 - Each of the last three European meetings between Chelsea and Milan have
been drawn, with their last coming in the 1999-00 Champions League first
group stage.
2007-08 - This season will be the first to see both Celtic and Rangers
compete in the Champions League since 2007-08.
2 - Barcelona have just won two of their 13 European games against Bayern
Munich (D2 L9), but those wins were in the Champions League at the Nou Camp
(April 2009 & May 2015).
3 - Real Madrid have won two Champions League in three editions they were
drawn with Shakhtar (2015/16 & 2021/22), reaching the semi-finals in the
other one (2020/21).
When are the group stage games?
The full fixture list for the group stage will be revealed after the draw
but UEFA has confirmed the matchday dates.
Matchday 1: September 6/7
Matchday 2: September 13/14
Matchday 3: October 4/5
Matchday 4: October 11/12
Matchday 5: October 25/26
Matchday 6: November 1/2
Who Liverpool and Man City play before and
after CL ties
Liverpool face several tough Premier League fixtures after playing Champions
League group stage ties.
Jurgen Klopp's side will travel to Chelsea following their second group
match and then head to Arsenal following their third.
Who Liverpool play before and after CL...
Matchday 1: September 6/7 – Everton (a) before, Wolves (h) after
Matchday 2: September 13/14 – Wolves (h) before, Chelsea (a) after
Matchday 3: October 4/5 – Brighton (h) before, Arsenal (a) after
Matchday 4: October 11/12 – Arsenal (a) before, Man City (h) after
Matchday 5: October 25/26 – Forest (a) before, Leeds (h) after
Matchday 6: November 1/2 – Leeds (h) before, Tottenham (a) after
Their difficult run does not stop there as then Liverpool host Manchester
City after their fourth Champions League group tie before going to Tottenham
once Group A has concluded.
Manchester City's fixture run looks more favourable. They welcome Spurs
after their first Group G match and host Manchester United before their
third Champions League fixture.
Who Man City play before and after CL...
Matchday 1: September 6/7 –Villa (a) before, Tottenham (h) after
Matchday 2: September 13/14 – Tottenham (h) before, Wolves (a) after
Matchday 3: October 4/5 – Man Utd (h) before, Southampton (h) after
Matchday 4: October 11/12 – Southampton (h) before, Liverpool (a) after
Matchday 5: October 25/26 – Brighton (h) before, Leicester (a) after
Matchday 6: November 1/2 – Leicester (a) before, Fulham (h) after
When is the Champions League round-of-16
draw?
The 2022/23 Champions League final will take place on June 10, 2023 at the
Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, which was the venue for Liverpool's
famous comeback victory over AC Milan in 2005.
Round of 16: February 14/15/21/22 & March 7/8/14/15, 2023
Quarter-finals: April 11/12 & 18/19, 2023
Semi-finals: May 9/10 & 16/17, 2023
Final: June 10, 2023 (Istanbul, Turkey)
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