Monday, 29 August 2016

Welcome Home Liverpool FC! Champions League Preview

It’s been 157,550,400 seconds or 2,625,840 minutes or 43,830 hours or 1,826 days; Or more simply five years. Five long years since Liverpool have heard the Champions League anthem; Five years since a brace by Fiorentina’s Stefan Jovetic drowned Liverpool...Five years of hurt. Mr Brendan Rodgers has brought joy back to the club and its supporters who have waited too long for Liverpool’s return. Five years were too long for the five time champions. But now they are back home to where they belong; The UEFA Champions League, searching for their sixth success in Berlin next year.


Beautiful Sight
Yesterday the Champions League Group Stage draw was held in Monaco where Europe’s elite clubs waited to see who they would face. The total of 32 teams were divided into four pots, the first pot contained eight of the best teams in Europe, who include the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona. The second pot had the next eight and the same applied with the next two pots. Liverpool were placed in the 3rd pot because of their low UEFA Co-Efficiency ranking, this also meant that it was likely that Liverpool would have the so-called ‘Group of Death’. Potentially Liverpool could’ve had Barcelona, PSG and Roma in their group. Many pundits and rival fans had the idea that we Kopites would be afraid of the potential ‘self-destruct’ group however it was the complete opposite. Since Liverpool has been out of the competition for so long, world class teams such as Barcelona and Real Madrid would’ve been welcomed with open arms at Anfield. The ‘Group of Death’ would’ve been the dream.



The dream wasn’t fulfilled much to Liverpool’s delight as they received a kind draw. Real Madrid, FC Basel and Ludogorets are Liverpool’s group stage opponents for the upcoming Champions League group stage. Real Madrid are the standout team of that group because they are of course the holders of the trophy which they labelled; La Decima or The Tenth Champions League victory. Liverpool vs. Real Madrid will be the heavyweight clash out of all the groups with a gigantic total of 15 titles between them. Furthermore if you want the prime definition of a majestic Champions League night look no further than Liverpool vs. Real Madrid under the floodlights of Anfield. Basel of Switzerland has proved over the years that they are a true Champions League club by producing many stunning results over the years. Ludogorets are the final team to finish Group B whom beat Steaua Bucharest on penalties to qualify for the first time in their 13 year history. I believe that Liverpool can qualify and possibly tip Madrid of their potential top spot. Basel will be tough to handle, but I reckon they can be seen off by the Reds particularly at Anfield. As for Ludogorets, I think it’s fair to say that they are there to complete the numbers. It could either turn into a successful campaign or a repeat of 09/10 which saw Liverpool failing to qualify out of their group. They are some similarities of that group; Real Madrid as 09’ Lyon, Basel as the surprise team like Fiorentina and Ludogorets being pointless as Debrecen. Very similar but I believe Brendan Rodgers could have a memorable campaign this season.

Champions League Nights are back at Anfield
For the other English clubs they were many repeats from last year carried over to this. Firstly for the Premier League Champions, Manchester City, their poor luck in Europe’s prestigious competition continues following the draw. The Citizens got 5 times Champions League winners and current holders of the FIFA Club World Cup, Bayern Munich, who like Liverpool, are seeking their sixth Champions League. Russia’s CSKA Moscow and a very strong returning Roma led by Francesco Totti are the others who complete the ‘Group of Death’. For Arsenal they qualified through their annual play-off win to cement their status in the group stage for an impressive 17th season in a row. But of course successive qualifications don’t mean anything if they don’t win it. So Arsene Wenger hopes to finally win the trophy that has eluded him for 16+ years by going over the hurdle including Dortmund, Galatasaray and Anderlecht; all genuine Champions League teams. Chelsea are the last British team for the Champions League group stage (Celtic didn’t qualify and Manchester United are irrelevant). Chelsea got the kindest draw out of the Premier League teams; all three of their opponents are easily beatable with the quality of Chelsea’s players. Players such as Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard and Diego Costa could turn their games versus Schalke, Sporting Lisbon and Maribor into exhibitions.


The Stadium where the best team in Europe will be revealed
The other groups are worth looking out for and most of which define what the Champions League is all about. For example Group A has last year’s runners up Atletico Madrid who are looking to go one better and win the Champions League but Juventus, Olympiacos and Malmo will be hoping to do their job to deny them from qualifying. Also Group F is another group which has European heavyweights (and Ibrahimovic’s former clubs) in Barcelona, PSG and Ajax. Cypriots APOEL Nicosia completes this tough group, but they can surprise many like they did in 2012 by reaching the quarter finals.
Champions League Group Stage in Full
This has the prospect of becoming a memorable season for Liverpool or a horrible one. But whatever happens, I think every Kopite is proud to see their team back in the big time. Anfield nights, Kop singing YNWA, Champions League anthems etc. are back! And boy they have been missing. See you all for a magical return of the Champions League at Anfield vs. Ludogorets and hope to end the journey in Berlin for triumph number six.


HERE'S THE FIXTURE LIST FOR LIVERPOOL'S CONQUEST FOR TITLE #6:
September 16: Ludogorets (H)
October 1: Basel (A)
October 22: Real Madrid (H)
November 4: Real Madrid (A)
November 26: Ludogorets (A)
December 9: Basel (H)


Number 5, Could we see Number 6?

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