Arya News - Liverpool’s Champions League Rivals Amid Evolving European LandscapeThe curtain is slowly rising on another Champions League campaign, and Liverpool are already centre stage. With 29 clubs confirmed...
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France’s champions Paris Saint-Germain are joined by Marseille and Monaco, while the Netherlands are represented by Ajax and PSV Eindhoven. Galatasaray, Olympiacos, Slavia Prague, Sporting CP and Union SG round out the confirmed group, as the final seven places await their fate via summer qualifiers.
Key Dates and Format Updates
For Liverpool and the rest, focus now shifts to 28 August, when the draw for the league phase takes place. Matchday one kicks off shortly after, across 16, 17 and 18 September.
The tournament will follow the new format introduced last season. Thirty-six teams will be seeded into four pots and drawn to face two sides from each, home and away. The design intends to increase competitiveness, variety and, perhaps most crucially, commercial appeal.
UEFA’s guidelines state: “In principle, teams from the same association cannot be drawn against each other and each team may play against a maximum of two opponents from any other one association… The UEFA administration may determine alternative conditions for the draw… and may adapt any of the conditions… to avoid deadlock situations and/or take into account any relevant constraints.”
Liverpool Poised for European Revival
For Liverpool, this is not just a return to the Champions League. It is an opportunity to redefine themselves under Arne Slot on the European stage.