Champions League draw 2019: Liverpool’s possible next opponents ahead of last-16
Liverpool qualified for the last-16 of the Champions League on Tuesday night with a 2-0 win over Red Bull Salzburg.
Jurgen Klopp’s men are defending their title after victory in Madrid earlier this year, and are among the favourites to claim glory in Istanbul next May.
The European champions topped Group E after Tuesday’s win, finishing one point ahead of second-placed Napoli.
How did they make it to the last-16?
Their campaign got off to a bad start in September when they lost 2-0 away to Napoli, and they needed Mo Salah’s 69th minute winner against Salzburg after blowing a 3-0 lead in a dramatic 4-3 win at Anfield two weeks later.
After Napoli frustrated Jurgen Klopp’s side in a 1-1 draw on Merseyside in late November they travelled to Salzburg on Tuesday knowing defeat could have condemned them to the Europa League, but two second half goals in as many minutes from Naby Keita and Mohamed Salah ensured their progress.
Which teams can Liverpool get?
Group A: Real Madrid – The Spanish side can’t finish higher or lower than second, with one game left to play. They’ve qualified for the last-16 behind Paris Saint-Germain.
Group B: N/A – Liverpool can’t face Bayern Munich, given they also qualified in first, nor Tottenham, due to the domestic rule which prevents two teams from the same league being drawn against one another in the last-16.
Group C: Shakhtar Donetsk, Dinamo Zagreb or Atalanta – Second place has yet to be decided for the pool. Manchester City have already qualified as group winners.
Group D: Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen – Juventus have qualified top, meaning they won’t face Liverpool. Second place, meanwhile, has yet to be decided, with Atletico and Bayer Leverkusen in contention.
Group E: N/A
Group F: Borussia Dortmund – The Germans finished in second and could be drawn against their former manager. Barcelona topped the pool and therefore won’t face Liverpool at this stage.
Group G: Lyon – Finished in second place behind RB Leipzig.
Group H: N/A – Chelsea qualified as runners-up but due to the domestic rule can’t be drawn against their English rivals. Valencia topped the group.
Summary of who Liverpool could be drawn against: Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Dinamo Zagreb, Atalanta, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Lyon
