The Champions League knockout rounds are just a week away, and if Liverpool are to make it to the final, they will need to get past some of Europe’s elite.
Liverpool’s European journey truly begins now. Arne Slot is yet to win a knockout tie after last season’s early exit at the hands of the eventual winners, PSG.
That will be the first mission. Get past Galatasaray.
But there’s no harm in looking ahead to the potential next opponents on the road to Budapest.
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Liverpool coach Aaron Briggs pictured during the warm-up ahead of Arsenal vs Liverpool in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium (Credit: Getty Images/Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA).
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Liverpool landed on the more difficult side of the bracket, which contains every winner from the last ten years in the competition. Here’s every opponent that could stand in our way.
Liverpool’s possible Champions League opponents
Galatasaray
Liverpool are favourites against Galatasaray despite the Turkish giants inflicting one of their two league phase losses earlier this season.
They can’t be underestimated. Turkey is a very difficult place to go. It would, however, be borderline unacceptable to crash out of the round of 16 for a second season running. A tricky first opponent, but one we should handle.
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Chelsea
One of Liverpool’s closest rivals for top five in the Premier League, Chelsea are an interesting proposition. They too beat us earlier this season with virtually the last kick of the game.
Endo looks on as ball is played to Estevao for winning goal
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
Their chances of getting to the quarter-finals are admittedly slim, having to get past the reigning champions. I think they’re an inconsistent team, but a dangerous one especially in knockout football. We saw that at the Club World Cup.
All that said, it’s a different manager and a different Cole Palmer. Liverpool should fancy their chances if this all-English tie occurs.
PSG
This is where things get interesting. PSG knocked Liverpool out of the competition last time out, in a game decided by a penalty shootout. The French champions were probably deserved winners, but it was close.
It’s not the same PSG this season, that’s clear. They just don’t play with that same cohesion that blew so many sides away en route to their first Champions League trophy.
On current form, they’re not one of the best sides in Europe, though Liverpool should be wary of how similar their form trajectory has been compared to last season.
Real Madrid
Another giant who maybe isn’t in the highest gear is Real Madrid. They have been a thorn in Liverpool’s side in this competition for years now.
If Liverpool meet them in the semi-final, it will mean Madrid have found their form. That would have to be the case to get past Man City and probably Bayern. You can’t look at the players they have and not be somewhat worried.
Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool helps up Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Slot is 2-0 against Los Blancos, though, so he’d back himself to get the job done.
Man City
Facing Madrid in the round of 16 is Man City, again. Those two can’t escape each other in this tournament, and it’s always an entertaining tie.
City beat us just a few weeks ago, but it should be noted that they will be approaching the conclusion of a title race by the time Liverpool could be matched up against them.
That could be a decisive factor, but honestly, it’s one that could go either way.
Atalanta
It’s hard to imagine Atalanta getting past any of Madrid, City and Bayern. This is the Champions League, though, so you can never rule it out.
They have given Liverpool some tough, tough matches in recent seasons and if they were to end up in the semi-final, it’s not like there’s no chance of an upset. But this is a weaker Atalanta side than the ones headed by Gian Piero Gasperini.
They’re seventh in Serie A and are the least likely to get out of this side of the bracket.
Bayern Munich
A second-place finish in the league phase indicates that Bayern should be one of the favourites to win this competition. They have arguably the best attack in Europe, with Michael Olise, Harry Kane and Luis Diaz playing at a world-class level.
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Jeremie Frimpong celebrates after forcing an own goal during Liverpool's Premier League win over West Ham United at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Dan Mullan).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Dan Mullan
They’re the team I’d least like to face in the whole competition. An off-night in one of the legs, or even a lapse in concentration, could be enough for the German champs to punish Liverpool.
Any of PSG, City and Real Madrid would make for a difficult two legs, but Bayern might have too much for Liverpool. If they can get through, they likely meet Arsenal or Barcelona in the final — two beatable teams.
Let’s see what happens.
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