Liverpool will find out its Champions League group phase opponents on August 27, with the final seven sides to be decided following the playoff round later this month
Liverpool has qualified for the upcoming Champions League campaign
Liverpool has qualified for the upcoming Champions League campaign(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool has moved a step closer to discovering its Champions League group phase opponents after Tuesday's completion of the third qualifying round.
The Reds will learn which eight teams they'll be facing on August 27 when the league phase draw takes place, with 29 of the 36 clubs participating in this year's competition already confirmed. The remaining seven places will be determined by the Champions League playoff round. Those seven fixtures have now been settled, scheduled for August 18-19 and August 25-26.
In the league path, Lyon is set to meet Fenerbahce after defeating 10-man Sparta Prague 4-2 on aggregate. Former Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton, who has impressed in France, found the net for the Ligue 1 side as it secured a 3-0 home victory in the second leg to arrange a meeting with the Turkish club following its own 3-0 aggregate triumph over Sturm Graz.
If Lyon progresses, Liverpool could enjoy a reunion with one of its former stars later this season. NEC will take on Bodø/Glimt in the second league path qualifier, having secured an unexpected 2-1 AET aggregate victory over 10-man Olympiacos.
Bodø/Glimt also needed extra time to overcome Union Saint-Gilloise 6-5 on aggregate, sealing a dramatic 3-2 home win to advance against its 10-man rivals, who received an additional two red cards following the final whistle.
In the Champions Path, Celtic is due to face LASK in a tie that was already determined before the playoff round, with both sides entering the competition only at this stage. Levski Sofia secured a 2-0 aggregate victory over Kairat to set up a final qualifying showdown with AEK Athens, while Dinamo Zagreb's commanding 7-1 aggregate triumph over Kauno Zalgiris, despite being reduced to 10 men in its 2-1 second leg win, has earned them a tie against Viking.
Liverpool has won six European Cups
Liverpool has won six European Cups(Image: Getty Images)
Slovan Bratislava and Celje will go head-to-head after both sides successfully navigated the third qualifying round. The Slovakians edged through 4-1 on aggregate against Mjallby AIF, while the Slovenians advanced courtesy of two late goals that delivered a 2-0 second leg victory over Ararat-Armenia, progressing 3-2 on aggregate.
The final qualifying fixture will pit Hapoel Be'er Sheva against Sabah. The Israeli side pulled off a remarkable 2-0 away triumph over Red Star Belgrade, which had two men dismissed, to progress 3-0 on aggregate. Meanwhile, the Azerbaijanis demolished AGF Aarhus 4-0 at home to advance 5-2 on aggregate.
Champions League playoff round
Champions path
Levski Sofia vs. AEK Athens
Celtic vs. LASK
Dinamo Zagreb vs. Viking
Slovan Bratislava vs. Celje
Hapoel Be'er Sheva vs. Sabah
League path
Fenerbahce vs. Lyon
NEC vs. Bodo/Glimt
League phase draw
Liverpool has already been confirmed in pot one for the league phase draw later this month, alongside Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Man City, Arsenal, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
With the Reds prevented from being paired with either Arsenal or Man City, they will meet two sides from PSG, Bayern, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. Nevertheless, UEFA regulations would stop them from hosting Real Madrid at Anfield, having welcomed the La Liga team in each of the previous two campaigns during the league phase of the competition.
Pot two has also been finalized and will comprise Borussia Dortmund, Roma, Sporting, Aston Villa, Porto, Manchester United, Club Brugge, Real Betis and PSV. Once more, with Liverpool barred from meeting either fellow Premier League club, it will be paired with two of the remaining seven teams.
Feyenoord, Lille, Napoli, RB Leipzig, Villarreal, Shakhtar Donetsk and Galatasaray have already been confirmed for pot three, with the final two places determined following the completion of qualifying rounds. The victors of Fenerbahce and Lyon will also enter pot three, with Bodo/Glimt filling the pot should it advance past NEC. Should Bodo/Glimt fall to NEC, then success for Dinamo Zagreb over Viking would see it complete pot three. However, if the Croatians are also eliminated, then the already-qualified Slavia Prague will take their place in the pot instead.
Meanwhile, Stuttgart, Como and Lens have already been confirmed for pot four, and they will be accompanied by the victors of Levski Sofia/AEK Athens, Celtic/LASK, Slovan Bratislava/Celje and Hapoel Be'er Sheva/Sabah. Slavia Prague will also feature in pot four should Bodo/Glimt and/or Dinamo Zagreb secure qualification for the league phase. NEC and/or Viking would then fill out the pot if they progressed at the expense of the previously mentioned pot three contenders. Liverpool will be drawn against two teams from both pot three and pot four to finalize its group-phase schedule.
Pot 1
Paris Saint-Germain
Bayern Munich
Real Madrid
Liverpool
Inter Milan
Manchester City
Arsenal
Barcelona
Atletico Madrid
Pot 2
Borussia Dortmund
Roma
Sporting
Aston Villa
Porto
Manchester United
Club Brugge
Real Betis
PSV
Pot 3
Feyenoord
Lille
Napoli
RB Leipzig
Villarreal
Shakhtar Donetsk
Galatasaray
Fenerbahce OR Lyon
Bodo/Glimt OR Dinamo Zagreb OR Slavia Prague
Pot 4
Dinamo Zagreb (if Bodo/Glimt progress) OR Viking
Slavia Prague (if Bodo/Glimt and/or Dinamo Zagreb progress)
NEC (if it beats Bodo/Glimt)
Stuttgart
Como
Lens
Levski Sofia OR AEK Athens
Celtic OR LASK
Slovan Bratislava OR Celje
Hapoel Be’er Sheva OR Sabah