Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Champions League draw: Best and worst group stage scenarios for the Premier League sides

Liverpool suffered heartbreak in Kiev last season as Real Madrid claimed a stunning third consecutive crown.

The Reds have been joined by Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham as the Premier League’s representatives among Europe’s elite this term.
But who could get who in the group stage draw?

There are still three places left to be decided in the play-off rounds but the pots are shaping up heading of tomorrow afternoon’s ball picking.

Pot 1 includes Real as Champions League title holders, Europa League winners Atletico Madrid and the champions of Europe’s major leagues.

The clubs are then filtered into their respective pots based on their UEFA club coefficients.
Liverpool, Valencia and Viktoria Plzen are yet to have their pots confirmed as tonight’s results could see a lower or higher seeded side enter the tournament.

For example, should Benfica get past PAOK Salonika later, Liverpool will be placed in Pot 3, if not the Reds will go into Pot 2.

Valencia and Viktoria Plzen could be in Pot 3 or 4 depending on tonight’s games with PSV Eindhoven holding the key for both due to their higher coefficient.
Here are the best and worst case scenarios for each of England’s big guns.

Manchester City
As Premier League champions, City are in Pot 1 and know they could be in for a relatively simple group.

Best draw: Shakhtar Donetsk, Viktoria Plzen, AEK Athens.

City would also likely favour facing the winner of tonight’s game between Red Bull Salzburg and Red Star Belgrade. PAOK Salonika or BATE Borisov would also be favourable should either qualify.

Worst draw: Borussia Dortmund, Monaco, Inter Milan.

Benfica and PSV could also prove tricky if they qualify this evening.

Manchester United

Jose Mourinho’s United are in Pot 2 and know they’ll likely take on one of Europe’s very best.

Best draw: Lokomotiv Moscow, Viktoria Plzen, AEK Athens.

Like City, United could face Salzburg, Belgrade, Salonika or Borisov in a favourable draw.

Worst draw: Real Madrid, Monaco, Inter Milan.

The likes of Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Schalke and Ajax could also await.

Tottenham

As Spurs are in the same pot as United, they face a similar destiny to their Premier League rivals.

Best draw: Lokomotiv Moscow, Viktoria Plzen, AEK Athens.

Salzburg, Belgrade, Salonika, Borisov are also waiting in the wings.

Worst draw: Real Madrid, Monaco, Inter Milan.

Liverpool

The Reds are yet to find out which pot they’ll be placed in as tonight’s results will determine this.  Jurgen Klopp’s side could slip into Pot 3 and face a potential group of death.

Best draw (if in Pot 2): Lokomotiv Moscow, Viktoria Plzen, AEK Athens.

Best draw (if in Pot 3): Lokomotiv Moscow, Shakhtar Donetsk, AEK Athens.

Worst draw (if in Pot 2): Real Madrid, Monaco, Inter Milan.

Worst draw (if in Pot 3): Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan.

The draw for the Champions League group stage gets underway at 5pm UK time on Thursday August 30.

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