Following last year’s Champions League final defeat at the hands of Real Madrid in Paris, Jurgen Klopp advised Liverpool supporters to book the hotel for next year’s showpiece in Istanbul. Such is the confidence that the legendary German manager has in the squad, and why wouldn’t he? During his almost seven years in charge at Anfield the former Borussia Dortmund man has led the club to their first Premier League title in 30 years, three Champions League finals — winning one, the league cup, and the FA Cup. It’s a far cry from when he first took over the reins from Brendan Rodgers back in October 2015.
The Champions League remains the big prize though, and this year, it will take some winning. Thanks to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the games will come thick and fast, and the demands on the players will be intense. Everyone knows that Liverpool have a strong connection with the greatest prize in club football. They won the competition on six separate occasions. To put that into context, only Real Madrid (14) and AC Milan (7) have won the famous big-eared trophy on more occasions. And while last season’s showpiece defeat in the Stade De France did hurt, it hurt less than in most years. Normally, The Reds head to the final as the underdogs, just as they did in Kyiv in 2018 and Istanbul in 2005. Last season though, they were big favourites against Don Carlo’s Blancos. They dominated the match for long periods and if it wasn’t for Thibaut Courtois’ heroics, would have travelled back to Merseyside as seven-time winners.
Perhaps that is why Klopp was so adamant that Kopites should book their hotels for the giant Turkish city one year in advance. He knows how good his team is. He has every right to be confident, but what of this season? Liverpool have been drawn alongside Ajax, Napoli, and Rangers in Group A of the competition. But what can we expect of Liverpool’s group stage opponents?
Ajax
Ever since the Netherlands’ record champions burst back onto the European stage in 2018/19 – defeating Real Madrid and Juventus en route to the semifinals – they have been a force to be reckoned with. Naturally, that squad was picked apart. Superstars Frenkie De Jong and Matthijs De Ligt both left for pastures new, but Erik Ten Hag managed to rebuild his squad.
In last season’s Champions League, the Amsterdam-based club dominated a group containing Borussia Dortmund and Sporting CP, before eventually falling to a shock defeat at the hands of Benfica.
This season, they are once again rebuilding. The aforementioned Ten Hag has left for Manchester United and he has taken star winger Antony and centre-back Lisandro Martinez with him. But new manager Alfred Schreuder has once again managed to strengthen, bringing in the likes of Steven Bergwijn, Owen Wijndal, Calvin Bassey, Brian Brobbey, and Florian Grillitsch. Schreuder’s men are the favourites to progress along with Liverpool to the last 16.
Napoli
The last two times Napoli were in the Champions League, they were drawn alongside Liverpool. The recent group stage draw in Istanbul made it a hat-trick, and the Italians must be sick of the sight of Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Admittedly the Azzurri aren’t as impressive as they were a decade ago, when they were spearheaded by Edinson Cavani, Ezequiel Lavezzi, and Marek Hamsik, but they are still no mugs. New signing, Georgian international Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, has also hit the ground running, providing three goals and an assist in his first four games for the club. The winger will have to be monitored carefully if the Reds are to secure victory.
Rangers
Last season’s Europa League finalists, Rangers, are returning to the Champions League for the first time in over a decade. Their victory over PSV Eindhoven in the playoffs ensured that they have made the almighty climb from the doldrums of Scottish football to the most elite party in the game in just ten years.
If you were thinking of writing off Giovanni van Brockhorst’s men, think again. Last season they defeated UCL regulars Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig en route to the Seville showpiece, showing their pedigree on the continental stage. And let’s face it, is there ever an easy night at Ibrox?