Champions League 2017-2018

Spin-off from 'The Run In' thread.

Let's hope this thread isn't closed in August!

That moment when you realise you are in the Champions League



So, we're seeded then.

Love the f**king topic mate. Can't wait to hear that Anthem at Anfield.

Surely FSG will realise they have to spend in order to maintain our ECL, otherwise, what's the point? If you're not going to spend when you - finally - arrive at your long overdue destination - when are you going to spend!?

Van Dijk?
Keita?
Lacazzete?

Hope we don't let Couts go. We need him. If Couts wasn't our player, he'd be the type of player you'd look at to have a chance in the ECL.

Only 2 of the 5 sides that we could face in the playoff currently confirmed.

1899 Hoffenheim and Sporting Lisbon.

The other 3 will arrive from the 3rd qualifying round (we won't know till July).

The first leg of the playoff is midweek August 16th so it's almost a certainty (it best had be) that we should play on the actual first day of the season ie. Saturday 12th. And therefore there is a good chance we may be the first game of the season (ie televised at 12:30).  All IMO of course.

Don't be surprised if the 'fixture computer' picks us out a tasty clash

Only 2 of the 5 sides that we could face in the playoff currently confirmed.

1899 Hoffenheim and Sporting Lisbon.

The other 3 will arrive from the 3rd qualifying round (we won't know till January).

The first leg of the playoff is midweek August 16th so it's almost a certainty (it best had be) that we should play on the actual first day of the season ie. Saturday 12th. And therefore there is a good chance we may be the first game of the season (ie televised at 12:30).  All IMO of course.

Don't be surprised if the 'fixture computer' picks us out a tasty clash

So we dont know who we are playing til 4 months after we have played them ? 

So we dont know who we are playing til 4 months after we have played them ? 

So we dont know who we are playing til 4 months after we have played them ?

Did that deliberately to see who was paying attention. 

July, obviously.

How much better does it feel seeing a champions league thread knowing were in it?

Final's in Kiev, Ukraine next year.  26 May 2018 if you need to get it booked off work already. 

Any guesses to our lineup in that first qualifier?

Any guesses to our lineup in that first qualifier?

It'd take a true ITK to get that right at this stage of the year

I found this on the Echo site (courtesy of ESPN) regarding what certain pots could look like if the seeded teams made it through the qualifiers(*) along with Nice and if Man United win the Europa League(**)...

Pot 1
Real Madrid
Bayern Munich
Juventus
Benfica
Chelsea
Shakhtar Donetsk
Monaco
Spartak Moscow

Pot 2
Barcelona
Atletico Madrid
PSG
Dortmund
Sevilla*
Man City
FC Porto
Man United**

Pot 3
Liverpool*
Basel
Anderlecht
Dynamo Kiev*
Ajax*
Napoli*
Spurs
Olympiakos*

Pot 4
Roma
Leipzig
Feyenoord
Nice*
Celtic*
Unknown 1
Unknown 2
Unknown 3

I think if Ajax win the EL then Roma move up to pot 3.

In theory the hardest group we could get is... Bayern, Barcelona, Liverpool, Roma - sh*t!

The 'easiest' we could get is probably... Spartak, Porto, Liverpool, Celtic

Other teams that could take up the unknown positions in the draw: CSKA, Viktoria Plzen, Club Brugge, Steaua Bucharest, Young Boys, Hoffenheim, Istanbul Basaksehir/Besiktas, PAOK/Panathinaikos. 

Obviously a LOT could and will change between now and then though.

 

Any guesses to our lineup in that first qualifier?

Migs
De Scigia
Hector
Matip
Virgil VD
Keita
Can
Coutinho
Mane
Sturridge
Griezmann

Subs: Karius, Clyne, Lovren, Gini, Hendo, Origi, Firmino,

Let's make amends for the last time we 'returned' to the Champions League. The atmosphere throughout the whole group was utterly dire which was further compounded by Rodgers starting a weakened side against Real Madrid away. Never felt disappointment like it. I thought that was our natural environment and we just prospered in that competition regardless of who was playing or who was managing. Not so.

We still need to qualify. I can't and won't get excited yet.

We still need to qualify. I can't and won't get excited yet.

 

Yep,kinda looking forward to some midweek afternoon sessions at the pub though.

We still need to qualify. I can't and won't get excited yet.

It's all Benteke's fault 

We still need to qualify. I can't and won't get excited yet.

I'm excited for the qualifier. I think the fans will give it everything. Late summer night in August at Anfield. Should be good regardless of who we play.

Migs
De Scigia
Hector
Matip
Virgil VD
Keita
Can
Coutinho
Mane
Sturridge
Griezmann

Subs: Karius, Clyne, Lovren, Gini, Hendo, Origi, Firmino,

Get the pre-match thread going and get the debate started already!! 

Migs
De Scigia
Hector
Matip
Virgil VD
Keita
Can
Coutinho
Mane
Sturridge
Griezmann

Subs: Karius, Clyne, Lovren, Gini, Hendo, Origi, Firmino,

You can take Griezmann off that list right away 

You can take Griezmann off that list right away 

Haven't you got a Europa League Final to worry about? Just admit it, Liverpool is your team, not the scum down the East Lancs.

You can take Griezmann off that list right away 

Griezmann said he will decide in two weeks if to join United. I am guessing he is waiting to see if United beat Ajax, which they won't of course.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/antoine-griezmann-manchester-united-transfer-news-6-out-of-10-a7750221.html

Simple, United beat Ajax and sign Greizmann.
United loses and you keep Rooney.

You can take Griezmann off that list right away 

Killjoy!

Haven't you got a Europa League Final to worry about? Just admit it, Liverpool is your team, not the scum down the East Lancs.

Yes, like you fans at weekend it's now my turn for the squeaky bum