Following their exit to PSG in the Round of 16 last season, Liverpool will look to go further in Europe’s elite competition, but they must navigate the league phase once more.
Let's take a look at what that journey looks like following Thursday's draw.
Liverpool’s Champions League fixtures (order TBC):
Real Madrid (H); Inter (A); Atletico Madrid (H); Frankfurt (A); PSV (H); Marseille (A); Qarabag (H), and Galatasaray (A).
Hostile and humble homecomings on the horizon
The Reds’ most eye-catching fixture is undoubtedly their matchup against familiar foes Real Madrid, at Anfield.
The same fixture last season saw Arne Slot’s side exorcise their demons in a 2-0 win, their first in 15 years against Los Blancos.
The biggest talking point will be the return of Trent Alexander-Arnold, just months after the right back switched Merseyside for Madrid following the expiry of his Liverpool contract.
His departure was met with disdain from Liverpool supporters, who were unafraid to make their feelings known, as Alexander-Arnold was jeered at Anfield towards the end of last season.
He will be led by former Red Xabi Alonso, and both should expect an intimidating atmosphere at the least, with the Kop unlikely to take any prisoners.
On a brighter note, new signing Hugo Ekitike will return to Frankfurt following his £79 million move, and he will hope to continue his electric form when the two sides meet.
Favorable home fixtures and a 6,500 mile trip avoided
Alongside Real Madrid, Anfield will also play host to their neighbours Atletico, as well as PSV Eindhoven and Azerbaijani side, Qarabag.
The Merseyside club fell victim to PSV’s devastating home record last season in a 3-2 defeat and will be glad to have avoided a contest with a resolute Atletico Madrid side at the Wanda Metropolitano.
With the revamped Champions League format entering its second year, the extended amount of games will test each squad’s durability once more.
Fixture congestion is rapidly becoming a normality, which is why the Reds will be breathing a sigh of relief, in that Qarabag will be the side making a 6,500 mile round trip to Liverpool.
One would imagine that Arne Slot and his medical staff are somewhat grateful that the new format does not include reverse fixtures.
Away days difficult to gauge amid UEFA scheduling
While the likes of Marseille and Galatasaray will pose a problem for the travelling Reds, it is difficult to measure how detrimental the sides could be to Liverpool’s season until UEFA release the official fixture dates.
As of this writing, they could be placed anywhere between September and January, meaning a grueling away day lodged between some difficult leagues games could amount to a potentially tough run for Liverpool.
Arne Slot’s squad will be tested even more than last season, given the Dutchman’s reliance on substitutions already this season, a stark contrast to the previous campaign.
Last season’s finalists Inter also await the Reds, as Cristian Chivu aims to emulate his predecessor, Simone Inzaghi’s feat, in reaching two Champions League finals in three years.
The modernisation of the Champions League format has resulted in a computer generating all fixtures going forward, but Liverpool’s ‘fate’ could have been worse, and they will look to top the table once again to continue their road to Budapest.