Champions League Football next Season

Bring the fuckers on. They'll be shitting themselves at the thought of coming to Fortress Anfield on a European night.

Can't wait to hear that Champions League music.

Back where we belong!

That's a real worst case scenario isn't it.

And Id take it every day of the week. 

Abso-frickin-lutley, and twice on a sunday

We can't dictate who we want it to be in our group but more importantly, if qualify from a tough group other qualifiers will fear us more. That's how I sees it.

I want the toughest group possible. I believe we can take on anybody.

I want the toughest group possible. I believe we can take on anybody.

^^^ This. To be Champion, we must beat the best along the way.

we haven't qualified yet !

we haven't qualified yet !

11 more points for 3rd...

I can't wait  to be back    in the   champions League... 

11 more points for 3rd...

it madness it really is .

http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/competitions/Regulations/01/94/62/34/1946234_DOWNLOAD.pdf

I was thinking about the quality of our squad and how we are ready to take on Europe once more. I found the exact rules in the above link, the official competition regulations for the Champions League, to confirm the amount of players we can register.

Article 18 has the player eligibility and squad size information (page 33 of the document) and says that your 'A List' must contain 25 players within certain guidelines, 2 of which must be goalkeepers. The 'B list' is for youngsters. In the list of 25 we must have 8 locally-trained players and up to 4 of these can be association-trained players. Most of us will know all this, the 4+4 rule that came in.

Article 18.11 explains association-trained players as "registered with a club or with other clubs affiliated to the same association as that of his current club" for 3 seasons. Are they speaking of the same association i.e the English system? So players like Johnson, Henderson, Allen and Sturridge, that could be the four? But Sterling would be home-grown because he has been here since 15, correct? He is essentially seen the same as Flanagan and Gerrard? Kelly could be a third in there?

--

So 25 players, 23 outfield players - I managed to put a list of around 20 who I think are ready, really ready for this list. A couple of question marks but still good players. Another good full back is required. This is the bare minimum we can go in with, I reckon. But we do have the character to do so, everyone thought our squad was too thin this season, and it may be - but that doesn't mean we can't do it.

Suso and Borini straight into the A List may be viewed as a contentious decision but I feel they could come into this squad and have a positive impact - they are good players coming into a good system. They have both done well on loan.

1. Mignolet
2. Jones?

3. Johnson
4. Enrique
5. Flanagan
6. Kelly?

7. Skrtel
8. Agger
9. Sakho
10. Toure

11. Gerrard
12. Henderson
13. Allen
14. Lucas
15. Coutinho
16. Suso

17. Suarez
18. Sturridge
19. Sterling
20. Borini

Still more positions to fill. I wonder if they'll be the likes of Ibe, Illori and Alberto? or will they be new, experienced additions? Let's start with Konoplyanka and Tiote, then go from there.