Liverpool has been patiently waiting for its rivals to catch up this season. Six weeks after securing a Champions League spot, the Reds now have a clearer picture of who they'll be facing in next season's competition.
On April 12, Arne Slot's team, already leading the Premier League and on course for a record-equalling 20th English title, were mathematically assured of a top-five finish and an immediate return to Europe's elite.
Despite topping the revamped league stage this season, the Reds faced a surprisingly tough draw in the round of 16, losing on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain, who will meet Inter Milan in Saturday evening's final in Munich.
Arsenal, another Premier League contender, secured the second Champions League spot earlier this month, leaving five teams to battle it out for the remaining three places on the final day. Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle United all emerged victorious.
England, typically allocated four Champions League qualification spots, was granted an additional team due to the Premier League's impressive performance in Europe this season. Spain also received this privilege.
Tottenham Hotspur made it six English teams last midweek by defeating Manchester United in a lackluster Europa League final between two underperforming sides. As per the previous season, a total of 36 teams will comprise the initial league stage. Each team will play eight matches against different opponents, with four at home and four away.
goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of PSG and Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool FC hugging each other
PSG knocked Liverpool out of this season's competition (Image: DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Teams from the same country are not allowed to face each other, with the draw for the fixtures divided into teams playing two opponents from each of the four pots, which are determined by UEFA coefficient - the record of each club in European competition over the past five years.
Seven of the 36 clubs will come through the qualifying rounds, which occur in July and August. The remaining 29, however, have already been decided and are in the draw, which will be held on 28 August.
The nine teams in Pot 1 have also been confirmed, with Liverpool joined by English rivals Manchester City and Chelsea, Spanish duo Real Madrid and Barcelona, German teams Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, and this season's finalists PSG and Inter.
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In addition to the remaining Premier League clubs Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle - who currently are in pots 2, 3 and 4 respectively - Spain also has Atletico Madrid, Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao. Italy is further represented by Napoli, Atalanta and Juventus, while Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt complete the German quartet.
PSV Eindhoven and Ajax have secured their spots from the Netherlands, while Marseille and Monaco represent France, and Sporting Lisbon hails from Portugal. Olympiakos of Greece, Slavia Prague of Czechia, Turkey's Galatasaray and Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise complete the line-up.
Interestingly, Liverpool has only failed to face Newcastle, Sporting Lisbon and Slavia Prague in European competition among the fellow direct qualifiers. Five of the eight teams they encountered in last year's league stage - AC Milan, Bologna, RB Leipzig, Girona and Lille - all missed out on qualification this time. The Champions League final for the upcoming season is set to be held in Budapest on 30 May.