Opponents announced for Champions League and Carabao Cup

Liverpool’s opponents have been set for both the Champions League and the Carabao Cup, In the Champions League draw in Turkey, the Reds will play in Group A along with Dutch power Ajax, Italian side Napoli and Scottish club Rangers FC.

“This is a proper, proper challenge,” Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp said shortly after the draw. “All of the clubs have quality, they all have the pedigree and I would say they all have a chance. The good thing is that we do also, so it makes sense for us to look forward to the challenge and give it a try.”

Liverpool is no stranger to facing Ajax or Napoli. They last met Ajax in the 2020 Champions League, winning 1-0. As for Napoli, the last time the clubs did battle on the pitch, they had to settle for a 1-1 draw in 2019. Liverpool has never faced Rangers FC, but former Reds’ player Ben Davies transferred to the Scottish side earlier this year.

"It was only a couple of years back that we played two really tough matches against Ajax and we have drawn against Napoli pretty regularly, so we know quite a bit about both of them and They know quite a bit about us,” Klopp said. “Rangers are a new opponent for us, but we know them, too. Ben Davies is just starting out on his journey with Rangers, so it will be good to come up against them. The only certainty right now is that all of the six games will be incredibly competitive and really intense. I'm excited about it. It is a proper football group and like I said, a proper challenge."

Liverpool looks to lift their first Champions League Trophy since 2005 and their 6th overall. Group play begins September 13th vs Napoli. Group Stage matches will be broadcast on BT Sport in England and Amazon Prime Streaming Service in the USA. 

Carabao Cup

Liverpool hopes to defend their Carabao Cup title and they will begin that quest by facing third-tier English Club Derby County at Anfield. Matches are set to begin the week of November 7th. Stay tuned to LFC Globe for more details as they are released.

LFC Globe Verdict

The draw for the Champions League did not do the Reds any favors as there are no easy matches in Group A. But then again no one asked for an easy road. If Liverpool are to advance out of group play, they will have earned it. Liverpool are one of the biggest and best clubs in World Football and I expect them to prove it. The Reds advanced to the finals last year, but fell to Real Madrid in the Final 1-0. Anything less than a Title this season would be a disappointment.

Liverpool's Champions League Fixture Schedule (Group A)