Liverpool now know exactly who stands between them and the Champions League knockout stages.
Andoni Iraola’s Reds have been handed a fascinating league-phase schedule, with four games at Anfield and four away from home.
Here are Liverpool’s eight opponents:
🏠Liverpool at home
🔴 Atletico Madrid
🔴 Porto
🔴 Villarreal
🔴 Lens
✈️ Liverpool away
⚫🔵 Inter Milan
🔵⚪ Club Brugge
🟡🔵 Fenerbahce
🔴 LASK
And there are some brilliant European nights to look forward to.
Atletico Madrid at Anfield
Liverpool will welcome Atletico Madrid to Anfield in one of the standout fixtures of the league phase.
Diego Simeone’s side have always been notoriously difficult to play against, and their intensity and defensive organisation will provide Iraola with a serious test.
But there’s something special about Champions League nights at Anfield.
This is exactly the sort of fixture Liverpool fans will have been hoping for.
Curtis Jones reunion in Milan?
The trip to Inter Milan could be particularly interesting.
Curtis Jones completed his move from Liverpool to the Nerazzurri this summer, meaning the Champions League draw has immediately created the possibility of an emotional reunion.
Jones could now find himself lining up against the club he represented throughout his career.
For Liverpool supporters, seeing an academy graduate return to Anfield would be one thing.
Seeing him play against Liverpool in a Champions League match would be something else entirely.
Porto at Anfield
Porto are another familiar opponent for Liverpool.
The Reds have faced the Portuguese club several times in European competition over the years.
But there is no room for complacency.
Liverpool should be favourites at Anfield, but Porto are capable of making life extremely difficult for anyone.
This is the sort of game Liverpool will need to win if they want to finish among the league phase’s highest-ranked teams.
Club Brugge away
The trip to Belgium could provide a completely different challenge.
Club Brugge may not have the same reputation as Atletico or Inter, but away matches in European competition are never straightforward.
Liverpool will need to be professional.
These are the matches where points can be lost if concentration drops.
Villarreal at Anfield
Villarreal have plenty of European pedigree and have caused Liverpool problems in the past.
Playing them at Anfield should give the Reds a major advantage.
Again, it’s a match Liverpool will expect to win.
And if Iraola’s side can perform consistently in these home fixtures, they should put themselves in a strong position.
Fenerbahce away
The atmosphere in Istanbul should be incredible.
Fenerbahce’s supporters are renowned for creating an intimidating environment, and Liverpool will have to deal with that as well as a dangerous opponent.
This could be one of the most difficult away games of the league phase.
It will test Liverpool’s mentality as much as their football.
Lens at Anfield
Lens provide another home fixture Liverpool will be expected to target for three points.
There is an opportunity here for Liverpool to build a strong record at Anfield.
Four home games.
Four opportunities to collect points.
And if Liverpool can make Anfield a fortress again, they could put themselves in an excellent position before the final away games.
LASK away
Finally, Liverpool travel to Austria to face LASK.
On paper, this looks like one of the more favourable fixtures.
But Liverpool cannot afford to underestimate anyone.
Iraola will need to ensure his squad maintains its intensity even when facing opponents who may be viewed as weaker.
What should Liverpool be targeting?
The new Champions League format means every game matters.
Liverpool will play eight different opponents, with the top eight progressing directly to the knockout stages.
For me, Liverpool should be targeting at least five or six victories from these eight matches.
The home fixtures against Atletico, Porto, Villarreal and Lens will be particularly important.
If Liverpool can dominate at Anfield, they’ll give themselves a strong platform.
Squad depth will be crucial
There’s one major concern, though.
Liverpool have a huge number of matches ahead of them.
Premier League.
Champions League.
FA Cup.
Carabao Cup.
And Iraola wants his team to play with intensity.
That means squad rotation will be essential.
We’ve already discussed Liverpool’s need for more midfield and attacking options.
This Champions League schedule only strengthens that argument.
You cannot compete on four fronts with a thin squad.
A brilliant European adventure awaits
There are some fantastic fixtures here.
Atletico Madrid at Anfield.
Inter Milan away.
Fenerbahce away.
Porto at home.
These are proper Champions League nights.
And then there are opportunities to pick up valuable points against Club Brugge, Villarreal, Lens and LASK.
Liverpool have been handed a schedule that is challenging without being impossible.
Now it’s up to Iraola.
Eight games.
Eight different opponents.
Four at Anfield.
Four away.
And one huge objective:
Get Liverpool into the Champions League knockout stages.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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