Liverpool are determined to go further in the Champions League this season after sealing their place in the last-16.
The Reds were knocked out at this stage last year despite finishing top of the inaugural league table phase.
In an unfortunate twist, Liverpool drew eventual champions Paris Saint Germain and although the Reds took them all the way to penalties, they were beaten in cruel fashion at Anfield.
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So many good displays vs Qarabag
Liverpool FC v Qarabag FK - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
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Arne Slot would have been hoping for better this time and while Liverpool have no doubt been given it, their passage into the quarter-finals still looks tough.
The Reds have four possible opponents in the knockout stage, with Jamie Carragher‘s frustrated reaction to the draw no doubt mirroring plenty of Liverpool supporters’.
Jamie Carragher not impressed with Champions League draw
Liverpool were not quite as good in the league phase this season, although they still managed to finish third in the overall table.
As they learnt last year, however, a high position does not guarantee an easier last-16 pairing. This time, it will be either Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Club Brugge or Galatasaray for Liverpool.
Florian Wirtz celebrates scoring the team's second goal with Hugo Ekitike during the UEFA Champions League football match between Liverpool and Qarabag at Anfield
Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images
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There are clearly some tough possibilities in there, and speaking to CBS Sports Golazo, Carragher claimed that the format is not completely fair.
“I’ve just seen who Liverpool’s potential opponents are. Honest to god. This new format, I’ve had enough of it,” said the Liverpool legend.
“We finished top last year and we got Paris Saint Germain. We finished third this year and listen to this: Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge, Galatasaray and Juventus, and we finished third. If you finish third you can’t have them, you can’t have Atletico Madrid in there, Juventus.”
Who is your ideal last-16 opponent and who do you want to avoid?
Liverpool's four potential Champions League opponents have been confirmed
Victor Osimhen in action during Galatasaray's Turkish Super Lig match against Bodrum (Credit: Getty Images/Ahmad Mora). Joel Ordonez pictured during Club Brugge's UEFA Champions League match against Arsenal (Credit: Getty Images/Alex Bierens de Haan - UEFA). Marcos Llorente pictured during Atletico Madrid's UEFA Champions League match against Liverpool at Anfield (Credit:Getty Images/Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA). Kenan Yildiz pictured during Juventus' UEFA Champions League match against Sporting at the Allianz Stadium (Credit: Getty Images/Stefano Guidi).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Ahmad Mora/Alex Bierens de Haan/UEFA/Robbie Jay Barratt/AMA/Stefano Guidi
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Arsenal opponents add to Liverpool frustration
Where Liverpool romped home in the league phase last season, Premier League rivals Arsenal have done the same this time around.
The Gunners have gone one better even, winning every single one of their eight fixtures. Like Liverpool in 2024/25, that meant Arsenal finished top of the pile.
Unlike the Reds, however, Mikel Arteta’s team have been given a much easier potential draw in the last-16. Arsenal will play one of Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Atalanta or Olympiacos in the next round.
There are some tough games in there, no doubt about that, and perhaps the Gunners will argue that their reward for finishing top should be even greater, but there is certainly nobody of the calibre of PSG.
Ultimately, Liverpool would still be favourites to progress past any of the four teams they could face in the last-16 and this is the Champions League, you want to face Europe’s top sides. But this certainly could have been more straightforward for the Reds.
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