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

[Red_Mist]

Confirmed

Sevilla (H) - 13 Sep Spartak (A) - 26 Sep Maribor (A) - 17 Oct Maribor (H) - 1 Nov Sevilla (A) - 21 Nov Spartak (H) - 6 Dec

Tough start that. Yeah it's a good draw, but chickens really shouldn't be being counted as has been said.

Fear no-one, but take nothing for granted.

Come on you mighty reds, exciting times again.

[markthescouser]

For what it's worth, I went to Ljubliana for a long weekend a couple of months ago and given how small Maribor is, people will probably stay there for a night or two. I highly recommend to anyway, it's a cracking city. Not as cheap as you might expect but still reasonable, say £3 a pint in a decent place on the river, and obviously much cheaper in other places- Slovenian wine is actually alright, after a few glasses anyway. Not a very big place but big enough to have a lively nightlife, they love their food too so if you're in the centre go to the kolbassa shop for a quick bite (spicy sausage in a roll with mustard).

Away from there, I've not been to Maribor but lake bled is about an hour to the north if people want something to do for a day- hilltop castle overlooking a stunning lake, not too many places like it in the world and of course a good place to have some Bled cake. Trains are a good way to get around and run bang on time but a bit slow, the roads are in great condition so if you're planning on driving then you shouldn't have a problem.

Shame the stadium is so small though, doesn't look like many of us are going to get tickets for this one.

[Persephone]

Poor Spuds that's a horror group for them. I can see them getting twatted by Madrid but still having the press give them the moral victory.

[Red_Mist]

Memories of the trip to Ljubljana and the 'Green Dragons'

[cdav]

Us and United in Moscow on consecutive days in September and then the Moscow fans here on consecutive days in December- pretty stupid by UEFA

[SyukriJ]

So we play Maribor away after the Utd game whilst they have Benfica away. Unlackkeeee

[d.arn]

Wow, just got home and... yeah, wow. That really is the perfect draw, can't imagine it could possibly have gone better considering we were in pot 3.

We really should get out of this group on top, and hopefully get a good draw in the last 16. Going to be a fun season. 

[GeorgiaRed]

Still have to beat what's in front of us. It's not a gimme.

And how many of these teams will just sit back and not give space behind? We have our work cut out to solve the park the bus teams. Should be interesting to see the tactical battle between manager and staffs shapes up.

[fudge]

Poor Spuds that's a horror group for them. I can see them getting twatted by Madrid but still having the press give them the moral victory.

real shame its at Wembley as i could have seen them with their pressing game giving Madrid problems at WHL.

[artanis]

And how many of these teams will just sit back and not give space behind? We have our work cut out to solve the park the bus teams. Should be interesting to see the tactical battle between manager and staffs shapes up.

These teams are champions or close to being champions in their respective leagues. Their go to approach is attacking football and possession football. While they may try to sit back they may not be great at it. After all that is not their default approach. If they have a go at us we will eat them up. If they sit back we will pick them off. Only Sevilla may be competent in sitting back because they have teams in their league like Barca and Real where they have to sit back.

[alvaro]

In a cup format draws are nowhere near as damaging as in the league. If they want to sit back at home, we should let them( except for Maribor of course).

[AK1892]

I'm from Maribor and a HUGE Maribor fan also!  I'm delighted that the biggest club in the world is comming to my home City and play my local team!

Maybe too soon... but I'm planning a trip to Anfield, so is there a possible way to get tickets vs. Maribor at Anfield ? Or is it better to come with my local supporters ?

Anyway, don't underestimate Maribor on our home ground, the fans are amazing when it comes to big games and really anything can happen. (Last time Maribor played in CL we managed to get a draw against Chelsea and Sporting Lisobna - a huge success for Slovenian footballl).

don't take me wrong here, I have much love to both teams!

YNWA!
and "Vijolčna je ljubezen večna!"

[AK1892]

I'm from Maribor and a HUGE Maribor fan also!  I'm delighted that the biggest club in the world is comming to my home City and play my local team!

Maybe too soon... but I'm planning a trip to Anfield, so is there a possible way to get tickets vs. Maribor at Anfield ? Or is it better to come with my local supporters ?

Anyway, don't underestimate Maribor on our home ground, the fans are amazing when it comes to big games and really anything can happen. (Last time Maribor played in CL we managed to get a draw against Chelsea and Sporting Lisobna - a huge success for Slovenian footballl).

don't get me wrong here, I have much love for both teams!

YNWA!
and "Vijolčna je ljubezen večna!"

[harleydanger]

Us and United in Moscow on consecutive days in September and then the Moscow fans here on consecutive days in December- pretty stupid by UEFA

i reckon one will get reversed

[Callaghan.]

We've drawn the bottom ranked team in two groups and the second bottom in the other!

Great in principle...

Just seen this on the Grauniad CL draw page. All the groups ranked by the combined Uefa coefficient of the teams involved..

Group H: Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham, Apoel Nicosia 405.3
Group D: Juventus, Barcelona, Olympiakos, Sporting Clube de Portugal 394.111
Group B: Bayern Munich, Paris St-Germain, Anderlecht, Celtic 382.857
Group A: Benfica, Manchester United, Basel, CSKA Moscow 321.069
Group C: Chelsea, Atlético Madrid, Roma, Qarabag 320.907
Group F: Shakhtar Donetsk, Manchester City, Napoli, Feyenoord 299.596
Group G: Monaco, Porto, Beşiktaş, Leipzig 222.938
Group E: Spartak Moscow, Sevilla, Liverpool, Maribor 208.922

Compared to the 8th, 7th, 8th we got, the others were:

United - 6th, 6th, 1st
Celtic - 2nd, 3rd, 8th
Chelsea - 2nd, 3rd, 7th
City - 7th, 1st, 4th
Spurs - 1st, 5th, 6th

By my reckoning, this is the Luckiness Table ...

Liverpool       23   
Seville       20   
Maribor       19   
Spartak Moscow       19   
CSKA Moscow       18   
Leipzig       18   
Bayern       16   
Beşiktaş       16   
Monaco       16   
Napoli       15   
PSG       15   
Atlético Madrid       14   
Basel       13   
Benfica       13   
Celtic       13   
Man Utd       13   
Porto       13   
Real Madrid       13   
Roma       13   
Barcelona       12   
Chelsea       12   
Feyenoord       12   
Man City       12   
Tottenham       12   
Sporting Lisbon       11   
Anderlecht       10   
Juventus       10   
Dortmund       9   
Qarabag       9   
Shakhtar Donetsk       9   
APOEL Nicosia       8   
Olympiakos       6   

... based on this:

Group A:
Benfica, Manchester United, Basel, CSKA Moscow
ECI ranking position in pot out of 8 ...
6, 6, 6, 1
Total (24 is the luckiest possible, 3 is the unluckiest) ...
Benfica = 13
Man Utd = 13
Basel = 13
CSKA Moscow = 18

Group B:
Bayern Munich, Paris St-Germain, Anderlecht, Celtic
2, 3, 8, 5
Bayern = 16
PSG = 15
Anderlecht = 10
Celtic = 13

Group C:
Chelsea, Atlético Madrid, Roma, Qarabag
4, 2, 3, 7
Chelsea = 12
Atlético Madrid = 14
Roma = 13
Qarabag = 9

Group D:
Juventus, Barcelona, Olympiakos, Sporting Clube de Portugal
3, 1, 7, 2
Juventus = 10
Barcelona = 12
Olympiakos = 6
Sporting Lisbon = 11

Group E:
Spartak Moscow, Sevilla, Liverpool, Maribor
8, 7, 4, 8
Spartak Moscow= 19
Seville = 20
Liverpool = 23
Maribor = 19

Group F:
Shakhtar Donetsk, Manchester City, Napoli, Feyenoord
7, 4, 1, 4
Shakhtar Donetsk = 9
Man City = 12
Napoli = 15
Feyenoord = 12

Group G:
Monaco, Porto, Beşiktaş, Leipzig
5, 8, 5, 3
Monaco = 16
Porto = 13
Beşiktaş = 16
Leipzig = 18

Group H:
Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham, Apoel Nicosia
1, 5, 2, 6
Real Madrid = 13
Dortmund = 9
Tottenham = 12
APOEL Nicosia = 8

[dudleyred]

i reckon one will get reversed

Not sure they can as thought Russian clubs had to be away last game due to climate?

It's a ridiculous bit of planning though

[GBF]

Not so easy draw as a lot of people are saying. We lost a final again Sevilla and going to Moscow playing on a plastic pitch ain't easy plus it's world cup in Russia you never know what are the instructions given to the officials (If you know what I mean)

[So… Howard Philips]

I think it's a toss-up between Bayer or Barca winning that group. I am hoping for Benfica in the round of 16!
Do we not owe them an elimination at that stage?

Wasn't that the game that Sissoko picked up his eye injury?

[Linudden]

Nice to start at home to Sevilla instead: we don't run the risk of scorching heat and a good chance to get a head start against the other group favourite.

[So… Howard Philips]

Hope Callaghan posts his luckiness table on GOT.

Oh the fewm when they see that.

[SandyShore]

I think we will be through by game 4, with 10 or 12 points. Maribor back to back as well.

[So… Howard Philips]

For what it's worth, I went to Ljubliana for a long weekend a couple of months ago and given how small Maribor is, people will probably stay there for a night or two. I highly recommend to anyway, it's a cracking city. Not as cheap as you might expect but still reasonable, say £3 a pint in a decent place on the river, and obviously much cheaper in other places- Slovenian wine is actually alright, after a few glasses anyway. Not a very big place but big enough to have a lively nightlife, they love their food too so if you're in the centre go to the kolbassa shop for a quick bite (spicy sausage in a roll with mustard).

Away from there, I've not been to Maribor but lake bled is about an hour to the north if people want something to do for a day- hilltop castle overlooking a stunning lake, not too many places like it in the world and of course a good place to have some Bled cake. Trains are a good way to get around and run bang on time but a bit slow, the roads are in great condition so if you're planning on driving then you shouldn't have a problem.
Shame the stadium is so small though, doesn't look like many of us are going to get tickets for this one.

Isn't Lake Bled Vlad Drakul's place of burial?

[Yanwoo]

Jeepers... we now have 7 games between 19th Sep and 22nd Oct - of which 6 are away, and the one home game is against Man Utd.

Squad gonna be tested.

[PhilV]

I think we did well with the draw, Maribor and Spartak will be a bit of a trek but good draw regardless.

My other team (Sporting) are absolutely getting tonked however, absolutely gutted, hope we take it to those Barcelona c*nts tho!

[Slick_Beef]

Really interesting draw which gives us a great chance to go through, hope we don't underestimate the other teams and raise our game. I have really missed the CL and am really looking forward to some big 2 legged ties next Spring if we can get there

I'm from Maribor and a HUGE Maribor fan also!  I'm delighted that the biggest club in the world is comming to my home City and play my local team!

Maybe too soon... but I'm planning a trip to Anfield, so is there a possible way to get tickets vs. Maribor at Anfield ? Or is it better to come with my local supporters ?

Anyway, don't underestimate Maribor on our home ground, the fans are amazing when it comes to big games and really anything can happen. (Last time Maribor played in CL we managed to get a draw against Chelsea and Sporting Lisobna - a huge success for Slovenian footballl).

don't get me wrong here, I have much love for both teams!

YNWA!
and "Vijolčna je ljubezen večna!"

Hope you get to go to Anfield mate 

[Yanwoo]

Jeepers... we now have 7 games between 19th Sep and 22nd Oct - of which 6 are away, and the one home game is against Man Utd.

Squad gonna be tested.

oh...and that includes our away trip to Russia.

[Felch Aid]

Reasonably confident but depends on injuries.

Big difference is we're not going to be facing Pulis cloggers or low block specialists.

Home is where Klopp will unleash hell and he'll expect Anfield to back that up.

Yum yum

[Samie]

oh...and that includes our away trip to Russia.

Did you just quote yourself and then respond to yourself? 

[Yanwoo]

Did you just quote yourself and then respond to yourself? 

Ha, yeah, I probably should have edited the original. Oops.

[LFCEmpire]

''Sevilla beat Liverpool FC in the Final of the 2015/2016 Europa League!'' That's the status on Sevilla's facebook page  They are feeling confident then 

[AK1892]

For what it's worth, I went to Ljubliana for a long weekend a couple of months ago and given how small Maribor is, people will probably stay there for a night or two. I highly recommend to anyway, it's a cracking city. Not as cheap as you might expect but still reasonable, say £3 a pint in a decent place on the river, and obviously much cheaper in other places- Slovenian wine is actually alright, after a few glasses anyway. Not a very big place but big enough to have a lively nightlife, they love their food too so if you're in the centre go to the kolbassa shop for a quick bite (spicy sausage in a roll with mustard).

Away from there, I've not been to Maribor but lake bled is about an hour to the north if people want something to do for a day- hilltop castle overlooking a stunning lake, not too many places like it in the world and of course a good place to have some Bled cake. Trains are a good way to get around and run bang on time but a bit slow, the roads are in great condition so if you're planning on driving then you shouldn't have a problem.

Shame the stadium is so small though, doesn't look like many of us are going to get tickets for this one.

Maribor is an amazing city!

Oh the beers.... beer is 2€ - 2,5€ Max.  (I reccomend drinking Laško beer!)
I think by english standards Maribor will be extremely cheap for you!  ( I bought a pack of cigs in Liverpool for 10 pounds, here ciggaretes are 4€ at most!)

[Nobby Reserve]

Isn't Lake Bled Vlad Drakul's place of burial?

Bet Luis would have loved that.

[Gnurglan]

Sevilla, Spartak, Maribor.

Let's call it what it is: a really good draw.

[Dim Glas]

Wow, just got home and... yeah, wow. That really is the perfect draw, can't imagine it could possibly have gone better considering we were in pot 3.

We really should get out of this group on top, and hopefully get a good draw in the last 16. Going to be a fun season.

 cool your jets!

[Jake]

I'm from Maribor and a HUGE Maribor fan also!  I'm delighted that the biggest club in the world is comming to my home City and play my local team!

Maybe too soon... but I'm planning a trip to Anfield, so is there a possible way to get tickets vs. Maribor at Anfield ? Or is it better to come with my local supporters ?

Anyway, don't underestimate Maribor on our home ground, the fans are amazing when it comes to big games and really anything can happen. (Last time Maribor played in CL we managed to get a draw against Chelsea and Sporting Lisobna - a huge success for Slovenian footballl).

don't get me wrong here, I have much love for both teams!

YNWA!
and "Vijolčna je ljubezen večna!"

If you don't get a ticket in the Maribor end (how many do they normally bring? I bet you can get one) there'll certainly be tickets on the exchange at the very least. Credits mean prizes.

[PoetryInMotion]

Not so easy draw as a lot of people are saying. We lost a final again Sevilla and going to Moscow playing on a plastic pitch ain't easy plus it's world cup in Russia you never know what are the instructions given to the officials (If you know what I mean)

Spartak Moscow aren't doing great this season and should be easier than CSKA Moscow who're somewhat regulars in the CL (and we should be able to beat them as well). Also we're playing Sevilla at Home once and not in a neutral ground as in the final. I'd take a draw in the away game.

Nobody is underestimating, but if you think this is not a good draw for us and we should be fearing Sevilla or any of the other Away Games, you're just being highly pessimistic and unreasonable. We should be favourites in each game except Sevilla Away.

[Samie]

Not so easy draw as a lot of people are saying. We lost a final again Sevilla and going to Moscow playing on a plastic pitch ain't easy plus it's world cup in Russia you never know what are the instructions given to the officials (If you know what I mean)

Lol if you think this isn't an easy draw compared to what we could;ve been handed if Sheva picked the other ball then give me the teams you'd have wanted?

It was either Group E or H. Which had Real Madrid and Dortmund in it.

[rafathegaffa83]

Probably the best possible draw we could have got and the plus side of playing Spartak away in a month other than December. That said Sevilla have shown themselves to be a very good side in Europe over the past few years. Maribor did well against Chelsea at home last time around. And even Spartak has history against us, dumping us out of the Cup Winners Cup in 1992.

[DanA]

The first game could set up everything. If we win we might get the opportunity to rotate and keep the squad fresh.

[Hazell]

Probably the best possible draw we could have got and the plus side of playing Spartak away in a month other than December. That said Sevilla have shown themselves to be a very good side in Europe over the past few years. Maribor did well against Chelsea at home last time around. And even Spartak has history against us, dumping us out of the Cup Winners Cup in 1992.

I'm kind of mildly disappointed we're not competing (yet) with the best teams in Europe but on the flipside, I suppose I'd be complaining that we've gotten a tough draw. Despite it being an easier group than what we could have got, it's still going to be tough like you say but the main thing is that Klopp and the team won't think of it as anything other than that. I don't doubt that that's what'll happen.