According to this is Anfield, Liverpool have found themselves in a tough spot due to the Champions League new format. The new “Swiss Model” states that every club will play eight matches in the qualification round. Four matches will be at home and the other four will be away games. This model also increases the possibility of clubs from the same pot playing against each other. The draws for the qualification round of the tournament took place on Thursday by software. Eight teams will qualify directly for the knockout stages followed by 16 teams face off each other in playoff rounds.
Liverpool will face RB Leipzig, AC Milan, PSV Eindhoven, and Girona in away matches. Moreover, the Reds will face Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, and Bologna at Anfield. This can be a tough run of fixtures for Liverpool. The matches will start from mid-September and continue till the end of January. Many football fans criticize this new model due to more games for clubs on tight schedules. Clubs will play 144 games in the qualification round before teams are selected for knockout stages.
Liverpool and Real Madrid’s rivalry continues
Real Madrid were the winners of the Champions League last season. After signing the one of the best players in the world, Kylian Mbappe, the Spanish giants are even stronger this year. Liverpool and Real Madrid have some bitter history with each other. Real Madrid beat Liverpool in their first Champions League final under Jurgen Klopp. This match was full of dramatic moments, from Mohamed Salah’s injury to Cristiano Ronaldo’s last game for Real Madrid. Real Madrid won the match 3-1 with two goals due to errors from Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius and a wonder goal from Gareth Bale.
Liverpool also faced Real Madrid in the Round of 16 in 2023, Liverpool lost on a 6-2 aggregate. Real Madrid have eliminated Liverpool four times in six seasons from the Champions League. Losing to Real Madrid was the beginning of Liverpool’s dream era. The Reds signed Alisson Becker from Roma the next season, and went on to win the Champions League that season. Lionel Messi and his team saw the strength of the Merseyside giants, after a historic comeback at Anfield.
Xabi Alonso will return to Anfield after a long time but not how the fans expected. The Spanish manager was a top target for the new Liverpool manager after Jurgen Klopp. Xabi Alonso managed to win the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen last season by not losing a single match in the league.
Fans are still not “sure” about the new model
The new Champions League model will be active till 2027. This model is better than the idea of the Super League and is accepted well by the critics. The function of the model is to generate more revenue for big clubs through ticket sales for big and anticipated matches. Moreover, smaller clubs can still get a fair chance to qualify and have an underdog story in the tournament. This model will surely help the richer clubs with squad depth to play a greater number of matches in the tournament.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot, has faith in the team to play well. The manager also told the fans to focus on every opponent rather than only Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen. The manager does not have a lot of time to prepare, however, Liverpool is in great form right now. The Reds have managed to win the opening games of the Premier League, scoring four goals and not conceding any. This new system has given football fans some great fixtures to look forward to. This campaign is a big challenge for the clubs.
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