Topic: 2017/18 Champions League group stage draw. Thursday 24th August at 5pm

[jambutty]

Because Slovenia is a small country, Maribor's stadium holds 12,500 the National Stadium in Ljubljana only holds 16,000, why would they move their home games for an extra 3,500 seats?

We'd certainly put Maribor on the map, but p'raps they'd rather have 25000 Reds in Ljubljana?

[Alan_X]

People banking points before playing the games need to have a word with themselves.

I'm not banking any points but it's about the best group we could have hoped for. There's being cautious and then there's having belief in the team and the manager.

[The holly and the jillc]

Not necessarily. 3 out of Barca, PSG, Juve, Bayern, Dortmund or Real could finish 2nd in the group.

I cannot see Real, PSG or Bayern finishing second.

[Mozology]

Thinking back to that Boro game after seeing the group we just got, thank fuck that ref never gave a pen and a red against Lovren. 

[The holly and the jillc]

How did Seville do last season?

[sms1986]

How did Seville do last season?

Came second in their group before losing to Leicester.

[Gerry Attrick]

How did Seville do last season?

In the Champions League? They got beat by Leicester in the knockout stages, been quite a few changes at the club since then. Sampaoli has left to coach Argentina and Monchi has left to take up a role at Roma.

[Linudden]

How did Seville do last season?

Extremely strong first half where they actually fought for the league title then a complete second half collapse.

[No Appreciation of Liverpool Opposition]

I cannot see Real, PSG or Bayern finishing second.

Well one of PSG or Bayern is mathematically guareenteed to.

[Alan_X]

Not necessarily. 3 out of Barca, PSG, Juve, Bayern, Dortmund or Real could finish 2nd in the group.

Which means we'll avoid the teams that were better out of Barca/Juve, PSG/Bayern, Dortmund/Real Madrid.

[mersey_paradiso]

How did Seville do last season?

Fourth, way behind Madrid/Barca and six points behind Atletico.

[The holly and the jillc]

In the Champions League? They got beat by Leicester in the knockout stages, been quite a few changes at the club since then. Sampaoli has left to coach Argentina and Monchi has left to take up a role at Roma.

Not quite the team we met in the Europa League Final then.

[Alan_X]

I cannot see Real, PSG or Bayern finishing second.

Which of Anderlecht and Celtic will?

[Dim Glas]

People banking points before playing the games need to have a word with themselves.

true, but it's only the fans doing it, not the boss and the players

[Gerry Attrick]

Which means we'll avoid the teams that were better out of Barca/Juve, PSG/Bayern, Dortmund/Real Madrid.

I see your point, but so much can change between the group stages and the knockout stages. There's a 2 month break and a couple of injuries can change everything.

[Always in a pub barney on christmas eve]

Twitter shite. Please ignore

[please, I have my reasons for it but...]

Extremely strong first half then a complete second half collapse.

Could be also describing their weekend game against Espanyol.

[Fordy]

It's just so great to be back in the CL... now let's get VVD

[The holly and the jillc]

Which of Anderlecht and Celtic will?

I haven't seen all the groups  yet.

[Goalposts for Jumpers]

Interestingly, or not depending on your point of view Dominic Solanke made his Champions League debut against Maribor.

This is why commas were invented 

[sms1986]

Anfield Online‏ @anfieldonline 56s57 seconds ago

Sevilla (A) - 12/13 Sept
Maribor (H) - 26/27 Sept
Moscow (H) - 17/18 Oct
Moscow (A) - 31/1 Nov
Sevilla (H) - 21/22 Nov
Maribor (A) - 5/6 Dec

I like how our last game is against the weakest team in the group, we could use that to our advantage in the league if we're guaranteed to progress by then.

edit - some suggestions in another thread that this might not be real.

[bird_lfc]

That's awesome. Great chance of making the knockout stages and beyond.

[No Appreciation of Liverpool Opposition]

I'm not banking any points but it's about the best group we could have hoped for. There's being cautious and then there's having belief in the team and the manager.

People are already discussing round of 16 opponents it's absurd.

[Alan_X]

I haven't seen all the groups  yet.

I assumed that. PSG and Bayern are in the same group with Anderlecht and Celtic.

[Yanwoo]

Anfield Online‏ @anfieldonline 56s57 seconds ago

Sevilla (A) - 12/13 Sept
Maribor (H) - 26/27 Sept
Moscow (H) - 17/18 Oct
Moscow (A) - 31/1 Nov
Sevilla (H) - 21/22 Nov
Maribor (A) - 5/6 Dec

At home to Huddersfield before the Spartak trip, away to West Ham after, and then an international break. Decent.

[The holly and the jillc]

I assumed that. PSG and Bayern are in the same group with Anderlecht and Celtic.

Fair enough.

[alvaro]

Since they changed the drawing format winning the group isnt as important as it once was ( because in the new format they are always a couple of death groups which makes for a hard runner up and some more easy groups which means easier group winners). But winning the group is still better than not winning it because on average the groups winners are still better than the runners-up . Plus having the return leg at home would be a big boost for us in an hypothetical last 16 round.

[Garlicbread]

 John Bradley‏ @jbradleymedia 4m

Spartak Moscow - fantastic new stadium. Great facilities. Good hotels. Flying time no worse than Istanbul. No problem with time zone.

[Romford_Red]

I'm not banking any points but it's about the best group we could have hoped for. There's being cautious and then there's having belief in the team and the manager.

and to everyone else who responded...

Yeah for sure have some confidence. I'm not talking  about those guys, I'm walking about the guys predicting points totals, predicting who is going to make the round off 16, that sort of thing.

I worry when we should beat teams, because that's where we seem to struggle.
I'd have liked a hard group. I think I'd have been more confident to be honest.

[SandyShore]

Nice, Sevilla away toughest game out the way 1st up, draw a decent result a win would virtually guarantee qualification.

[Linudden]

Oh so, better hope for no heat wave in Seville this September then...

Last year it hit 45C there that time of the year during the day. That could render 35C at kick off.

[Mr.Savage]

Anfield Online‏ @anfieldonline 56s57 seconds ago

Sevilla (A) - 12/13 Sept
Maribor (H) - 26/27 Sept
Moscow (H) - 17/18 Oct
Moscow (A) - 31/1 Nov
Sevilla (H) - 21/22 Nov
Maribor (A) - 5/6 Dec

Are these confirmed anywhere?

[Redman0151]

Before anybody books flights, those dates posted above are not correct.

The 1,2,3,4 in the fixture list do not correspond to the pots 1,2,3,4. Fixtures not yet confirmed

[Red Raw]

Has Rushie sold Coutinho yet?

Hopefully not, and while it is only right that we sent a such high profile delegation to the draw, I am not convinced that giving the tea lady authority to negotiate loan deals was such a good idea.   

[Caston]

Are these confirmed anywhere?

Nope

[No Appreciation of Liverpool Opposition]

Anfield Online‏ @anfieldonline 56s57 seconds ago

Arsenal
City the 9th
Sevilla (A) - 12/13 Sept
Burnley 16th
Liecester 19th
Liecester 23rd
Maribor (H) - 26/27 Sept
Newcastle 1st
United 14th
Moscow (H) - 17/18 Oct
Spurs 22nd
Huddersfield 28th
Moscow (A) - 31/1 Nov
West Ham 4th
Southampton 18
Sevilla (H) - 21/22 Nov
Chelsea 25
Stoke 29
Brighton 2
Maribor (A) - 5/6 Dec
Everton 9


And that's missing 2 cup games we may have to play

People really have to stop counting chickens before they hatch

[Always in a pub barney on christmas eve]

Anfield Online‏ @anfieldonline 56s57 seconds ago

Sevilla (A) - 12/13 Sept
Maribor (H) - 26/27 Sept
Moscow (H) - 17/18 Oct
Moscow (A) - 31/1 Nov
Sevilla (H) - 21/22 Nov
Maribor (A) - 5/6 Dec

Actually this is based on that shite about the pots being how the games are allocated, so they've jumped the gun a bit here

[Always in a pub barney on christmas eve]

Are these confirmed anywhere?

See above

[Alan_X]

People are already discussing round of 16 opponents it's absurd.

If the team was taking it or granted I'd be worried. I'm a fan though so I will fantasise to my heart's content. I was certain we'd win walking up to the ground last night and it never crossed my mind we wouldn't. I could have been terribly disappointed but I'm just a positive person.

We should do that group with relative ease based on what I saw last night. We might fuck it up but I'll wait until we actually do.

[Gerry Attrick]

People really have to stop counting chickens before they hatch

We couldn't have asked for a better Champions League group really. We have some very tough league games around Champions League matchdays, which is all the more reason to be content we don't need our full strength XI in every European game. Can hardly blame people for being fairly happy.