The Champions League draw
The Champions League draw takes place on Friday. (Image: Getty Images)
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Champions League clubs must wait until Friday to learn the identity of their round of 16 opponents. However, supporters already have a fairly clear picture of how to plan their schedules between now and next month's international break, as Premier League teams gear up for a crucial run of matches in the next 30 days.
The addition of two extra games in the Champions League opening stage, combined with the requirement of a play-off round to determine the 16 teams for the knockout phase, has resulted in a considerably faster turnaround of fixtures. In fact, there will be fewer than a fortnight between this week's round of 16 draw and the first legs.
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A statement released by the Premier League this week, however, has strongly hinted at when those matches will take place — and that scheduled top-flight fixtures during that period are at risk of being changed.
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The Premier League confirmed in a statement that West Ham vs Manchester City on Saturday, March 14 at 12.30pm and Arsenal vs Everton on Sunday, March 15, at 2pm, are at risk of rescheduling as a consequence of the forthcoming Champions League knockout stage draw.
In City's case, this is because UEFA cannot guarantee their first away leg will not fall on Tuesday, March 10. The Premier League has implemented a rule stipulating that clubs that play away in the Champions League on a Wednesday cannot be involved in a Saturday early kick-off.
The fact that the Arsenal fixture is also at risk, however, is what directly impacts Liverpool. Like the Reds, both Arsenal and Tottenham will host their Champions League round of 16 second leg matches, having secured a top-eight finish in the league stage.
Liverpool's draw card for the Champions League draw
Liverpool's draw card for the Champions League draw (Image: Getty Images)
As with Liverpool and Everton, the north London rivals do not stage home fixtures on the same day. And with Liverpool's Premier League meeting with Tottenham at Anfield on Sunday, March 15 at 4.30pm, not in danger of being rescheduled, it suggests both sides will be contesting the second leg of their Champions League matches on the Wednesday.
Whilst it will only be formally confirmed following Friday's draw, all signs point towards Liverpool playing their round of 16 away leg on Tuesday, March 10 and the home encounter on Wednesday, March 18.
And having avoided an away fixture in the second leg, Liverpool's top-flight trip to Brighton will proceed as scheduled at 12.30pm on Saturday, March 21.
Liverpool begin a hectic spell with a home Premier League clash against West Ham United on Saturday (3pm) before a double-header against Wolves in the league on Tuesday (8.15pm) ahead of another visit to Molineux in the FA Cup fifth round three days later (8pm).
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