Liverpool now know exactly when and where they will play their eight Champions League league-phase matches — and there are some seriously exciting nights ahead.
The Reds will face Atletico Madrid, LASK, Villarreal, Fenerbahce, Club Brugge, Porto, Inter Milan and Lens as Andoni Iraola takes Liverpool into his first Champions League campaign.
And when you look at the schedule, there is plenty to get excited about.
Liverpool’s Champions League fixtures
Liverpool v Atletico Madrid
Wednesday, September 9
8pm
LASK v Liverpool
Wednesday, October 14
5:45pm
Liverpool v Villarreal
Tuesday, October 20
8pm
Fenerbahce v Liverpool
Wednesday, November 4
5:45pm
Club Brugge v Liverpool
Wednesday, November 25
8pm
Liverpool v FC Porto
Wednesday, December 9
8pm
Inter Milan v Liverpool
Tuesday, January 19
8pm
Liverpool v RC Lens
Wednesday, January 27
8pm
Atletico Madrid first up at Anfield
Liverpool couldn’t have asked for a more interesting opening game.
Atletico Madrid are coming to Anfield on September 9.
That’s a serious test for Iraola immediately.
Diego Simeone’s side are experienced at this level and will provide a very different challenge to what Liverpool face domestically.
But under the lights at Anfield, it’s exactly the sort of European night Liverpool supporters love.
And starting the campaign with a home game is a major positive.
Then comes the first European away trip
Liverpool travel to LASK in October.
The 5:45pm kick-off isn’t the most convenient time for supporters travelling to Austria, but it gives Liverpool an opportunity to pick up three important points.
If Liverpool can win their opening two games, suddenly the league phase could look very promising.
Villarreal return to Anfield
Just six days later, Villarreal arrive at Anfield.
That gives Liverpool another opportunity to take maximum points on home soil.
And with Atletico Madrid and Villarreal both visiting Anfield early in the competition, Liverpool will want to make home advantage count.
Fenerbahce away
Then comes what could be one of the most intimidating atmospheres of the league phase.
Liverpool travel to Istanbul to face Fenerbahce.
The 5:45pm UK kick-off means it will be an earlier start for viewers at home, but inside the stadium the atmosphere is likely to be anything but quiet.
It could be a proper European test for Iraola’s team.
Club Brugge
Liverpool’s next game is another away trip, this time to Belgium.
Club Brugge will provide another tricky test, but Liverpool will look at this fixture as one where they should be targeting three points.
Getting points on the road will be crucial if Liverpool want to finish high in the league phase table.
Porto at Anfield
Porto then come to Merseyside on December 9.
Another 8pm kick-off.
Another European night under the lights.
And another game Liverpool should be looking to win.
There’s something about Porto and Liverpool that always seems to produce interesting European encounters, so this should be another excellent night at Anfield.
Inter Milan away
And then comes one of the biggest games of the entire league phase.
Inter Milan away.
January 19.
8pm.
San Siro.
That’s a huge one.
Liverpool supporters will also have the added storyline of Curtis Jones potentially facing his former club after his summer move to Inter.
And with Inter being one of Europe’s strongest sides, this could be Liverpool’s toughest away game of the league phase.
Lens finish the league phase at Anfield
Liverpool’s final game will be against Lens at Anfield on January 27.
It’s another home fixture and another opportunity to finish the league phase strongly.
Hopefully, by then Liverpool will already have secured a strong position in the table.
But if qualification is still on the line, Anfield could be absolutely rocking.
I actually like Liverpool’s schedule
Looking at the fixtures as a whole, I think Liverpool have been handed a pretty good schedule.
Four games at Anfield.
Four away.
The biggest home tests — Atletico Madrid and Porto — are games Liverpool will fancy themselves to win in front of their own supporters.
And although Inter away is extremely difficult, Liverpool have enough quality to compete with them.
The key will be getting off to a good start.
If Liverpool can take maximum points from their first few matches, it could put them in an excellent position before the tougher away fixtures arrive.
Eight European nights to look forward to
This is what being in the Champions League is all about.
Atletico Madrid under the Anfield lights.
A trip to Austria.
Villarreal at home.
The madness of Istanbul.
Belgium.
Porto.
San Siro.
And finally Lens at Anfield.
Eight games. Eight different challenges.
And for Iraola, it’s another opportunity to show what he can do at the very highest level.
I’m particularly looking forward to seeing how this Liverpool side develops throughout the competition.
The manager is new.
There are plenty of new players.
And Liverpool are still finding their identity.
But by the time Inter Milan comes around in January, we should have a much better idea of exactly what this Liverpool team can become.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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