Liverpool will be hoping they have what it takes to reach the UEFA Champions League final for a second straight year and avenge last season's heartbreaking 1-0 loss to record winners Real Madrid.
It will be a difficult task to replicate the success the Reds enjoyed in 2021/22 when they came close to winning a historic quadruple of trophies. After claiming both domestic cups in England (Carabao Cup and FA Cup), they fell one point short in the race for the Premier League title and they lost by the minimum scoreline in the Champions League final played in Paris.
Liverpool last won the Champions League in 2018/19 when they defeated fellow Premier League side Tottenham in the final.
The Reds are still led by the same manager who got them there, as Jurgen Klopp has been to three Champions League finals in his seven seasons at the helm of the legendary English club. Both defeats came against Real Madrid.
The path to the 2022/23 final in Istanbul is now taking shape and Liverpool now know their group stage opponents they must navigate. Finishing top of their group will ensure Liverpool get the best route possible in the round of 16. Only the top two advance from each group.
They enter this season's competition as one of the leading candidates to win it all, only behind Manchester City per the oddsmakers. Here's everything you need to know about Liverpool's participation in the 2022/23 Champions League.
MORE: Who will win the 2022/23 Champions League? Betting odds and favorites
Liverpool's Champions League group and opponents in 2022/23
Liverpool have been draw in Group A and will face Ajax, Napoli and Rangers in the group stages.
Group A
- Ajax
- Liverpool
- Napoli
- Rangers
Ajax
The Dutch champions and four-time European Cup winners were dumped out of the Champions League in the last 16 to Benfica last season; had they reached the quarterfinals, they would have faced Liverpool. Alfred Schreuder is embarking on his first season in charge of the Amsterdam club after Erik ten Hag left for Manchester United in the summer.
Napoli
Napoli, now coached by Luciano Spalletti, saw their Champions League campaign end at the last-16 stage last term as Barcelona progressed. These teams beat each other 1-0 at home in the group stages in 2018/19, when Liverpool finished in second above the Partenopei on goal difference. The following season, Napoli were the only team to beat the Reds in Group E as both sides progressed to the last 16.
Rangers
Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side beat PSV in a Champions League qualifier over two legs to reach the group stages for the first time since 2010/11. In that season, Rangers shared a group with eventual finalists Manchester United, finishing third behind the Red Devils and Valencia.
Liverpool Champions League odds
Liverpool are currently 5/1 with Sky Bet, +550 with Draft Kings, 4.54 with Sports Interaction and 6.50 with Bet365 to win the Champions League.
The odds to win/qualify from Group A are currently:
| Club | Odds to win group (USA: FanDuel) | Odds: Win, Qualify (UK: SkyBet) | Odds to win group (Canada: SportsInteraction) | Odds to win group (Australia: Bet365) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | -210 | 2/7, 1/12 | 1.31 | 1.28 |
| Ajax | +550 | 11/2, 1/1 | 6.54 | 7.50 |
| Napoli | +700 | 6/1, 11/10 | 6.54 | 7.50 |
| Rangers | +1500 | 14/1, 11/4 | 19.38 | 15.00 |
Odds correct as of Aug. 26
Liverpool Champions League fixtures 2022/23
Now Liverpool have found out their three group-stage opponents, European governing body UEFA will create a group schedule in the coming days in which the Reds will face the other three clubs home and away on the following dates:
| Matchday | Dates | Fixture | Time (UK) | Time (USA) | Time (Canada) | Time (Australia) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept. 6-7, 2022 | @ Napoli | 20:00 BST | 15:00 ET | 15:00 ET | 05:00 AEST |
| 2 | Sept. 13-14, 2022 | vs. Ajax | 20:00 BST | 15:00 ET | 15:00 ET | 05:00 AEST |
| 3 | Oct. 4-5, 2022 | vs. Rangers | 20:00 BST | 15:00 ET | 15:00 ET | 06:00 AEDT |
| 4 | Oct. 11-12, 2022 | @ Rangers | 20:00 BST | 15:00 ET | 15:00 ET | 06:00 AEDT |
| 5 | Oct. 25-26, 2022 | @ Ajax | 20:00 BST | 15:00 ET | 15:00 ET | 06:00 AEDT |
| 6 | Nov. 1-2, 2022 | vs. Napoli | 20:00 GMT | 16:00 ET | 16:00 ET | 07:00 AEDT |
Should Liverpool finish as one of the top two teams in their group at the conclusion of the six group-stage matches, they would advance to the knockout rounds, beginning with the Round of 16 in February 2023.
Here's the road to the final at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey on June 10, 2023.
| Round | 1st Leg | 2nd Leg |
|---|---|---|
| Round of 16 | Feb. 14-22, 2023 | Mar. 7-15, 2023 |
| Quarterfinals | Apr. 11-12, 2023 | Apr. 18-19, 2023 |
| Semifinals | May 9-10, 2023 | May 16-17, 2023 |
| Final | June 10, 2023 | |
Liverpool history in the Champions League
Of the 30 UEFA Champions League tournaments that have been held under the current format and branding since 1992/93, Liverpool have participated in 14 editions. They have reached the final on five occasions, winning two of them (2004/05 and 2018/19).
The 2022/23 competition will mark the sixth consecutive Champions League appearance for the Reds.
Liverpool's first participation in a Champions League tournament came in 2001/02 under manager Gerard Houllier. That season they advanced all the way to the quarterfinals, where they fell to eventual finalists Bayer Leverkusen.
In addition to the five final appearances, Liverpool have reached the Round of 16 twice, the quarterfinals on three occasions, and one semifinal. They failed to make it out of the group stage in the other three editions of the tournament.
MORE: When is the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League final?
| Season | Stage Reached | Eliminated by |
| 2001-02 | Quarterfinals | Bayer Leverkusen |
| 2002-03 | Group stage | Group B (Valencia, Basel, Spartak) |
| 2004-05 | Won | (beat AC Milan) |
| 2005-06 | Round of 16 | Benfica |
| 2006-07 | Final (Runners-up) | AC Milan |
| 2007-08 | Semifinals | Chelsea |
| 2008-09 | Quarterfinals | Chelsea |
| 2009-10 | Group stage | Group E (Fiorentina, Lyon, Debrecen) |
| 2014-15 | Group stage | Group B (Real Madrid, Basel, Ludogorets) |
| 2017-18 | Final (Runners-up) | Real Madrid |
| 2018-19 | Won | (beat Tottenham) |
| 2019-20 | Round of 16 | Atletico Madrid |
| 2020-21 | Quarterfinals | Real Madrid |
| 2021-22 | Final (Runners-up) | Real Madrid |
Liverpool all-time Champions League group-stage opponents
Here are the teams that Liverpool have drawn in the group stage of the past 14 Champions League tournaments in which they have participated.
The Reds advanced out of every group stage as one of the top two teams in all editions except for three: 2002/03, 2009/10 and 2014/15. In the most recent tournament, they recorded a perfect group-stage record, beating the other three group opponents at home and away.
MORE: Rundown of the European Cup/Champions League finals in Liverpool history
| Season | Group Opponents | Liverpool Group Finish |
| 2001-02 | Grp B: Boavista, B. Dortmund, D. Kyiv Grp B: Barcelona, Galatasaray, Roma | 1st (3W-3D-0L / 7 GF, 3 GA) 2nd (1W-4D-1L / 4 GF, 4 GA) |
| 2002-03 | Grp B: Basel, Spartak Moscow, Valencia | 3rd (2W-2D-2L / 12 GF, 8 GA) |
| 2004-05 | Grp A: Monaco, Olympiacos, Dep. La Coruna | 2nd (3W-1D-2L / 6 GF, 3 GA) |
| 2005-06 | Grp G: Anderlecht, Chelsea, Real Betis | 1st (3W-3D-0L / 6 GF, 1 GA) |
| 2006-07 | Grp C: Bordeaux, Galatasaray, PSV | 1st (4W-1D-1L / 11 GF, 5 GA) |
| 2007-08 | Grp A: Besiktas, Marseille, Porto | 2nd (3W-1D-2L / 18 GF, 5 GA) |
| 2008-09 | Grp D: Atletico Madrid, Marseille, PSV | 1st (4W-2D-0L / 11 GF, 5 GA) |
| 2009-10 | Grp E: Debrecen, Fiorentina, Lyon | 3rd (2W-1D-3L / 5 GF, 7 GA) |
| 2014-15 | Grp B: Basel, Ludogorets, Real Madrid | 3rd (1W-2D-3L / 5 GF, 9 GA) |
| 2017-18 | Grp E: Maribor, Sevilla, Spartak Moscow | 1st (3W-3D-0L / 23 GF, 6 GA) |
| 2018-19 | Grp C: Napoli, PSG, Red Star Belgrade | 2nd (3W-0D-3L / 9 GF, 7 GA) |
| 2019-20 | Grp E: Genk, Napoli, RB Salzburg | 1st (4W-1D-1L / 13 GF, 8 GA) |
| 2020-21 | Grp D: Ajax, Atalanta, Midtjylland | 1st (4W-1D-1L / 10 GF, 3 GA) |
| 2021-22 | Grp B: Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Porto | 1st (6W-0D-0L / 17 GF, 6 GA) |
Liverpool have faced 37 different group-stage opponents across their history in the Champions League competition, drawing seven different Spanish clubs in that span, which is more opponents than from any other single European nation.
They also once had Chelsea in their group before UEFA changed the group-stage draw rules so that teams from the same country could not be drawn against one another.
| Nation | Club | Season(s) |
| Austria | RB Salzburg | 2019/20 |
| Belgium | Anderlecht | 2005/06 |
| Belgium | Genk | 2019/20 |
| Bulgaria | Ludogorets | 2014/15 |
| Denmark | Midtjylland | 2020/21 |
| England | Chelsea | 2005/06 |
| France | AS Monaco | 2004/05 |
| France | Bordeaux | 2006/07 |
| France | Lyon | 2009/10 |
| France | Marseille | 2007/08 2008/09 |
| France | PSG | 2018/19 |
| Germany | Borussia Dortmund | 2001/02 |
| Greece | Olympiacos | 2004/05 |
| Hungary | Debrecen | 2009/10 |
| Italy | Atalanta | 2020/21 |
| Italy | Fiorentina | 2009/10 |
| Italy | AC Milan | 2021/22 |
| Italy | Napoli | 2018/19 2019/20 |
| Italy | AS Roma | 2001/02 |
| Netherlands | Ajax | 2020/21 |
| Netherlands | PSV Eindhoven | 2006/07 2008/09 |
| Portugal | Boavista | 2001/02 |
| Portugal | Porto | 2007/08 2021/22 |
| Russia | Spartak Moscow | 2002/03 2017/18 |
| Serbia | Red Star Belgrade | 2018/19 |
| Slovenia | Maribor | 2017/18 |
| Spain | Atletico Madrid | 2008/09 2021/22 |
| Spain | Barcelona | 2001/02 |
| Spain | Deportivo La Coruna | 2004/05 |
| Spain | Real Betis | 2005/06 |
| Spain | Real Madrid | 2014/15 |
| Spain | Sevilla | 2017/18 |
| Spain | Valencia | 2002/03 |
| Switzerland | FC Basel | 2002/03 2014/15 |
| Turkey | Besiktas | 2007/08 |
| Turkey | Galatasaray | 2001/02 2006/07 |
| Ukraine | Dynamo Kyiv | 2001/02 |
