Liverpool have been drawn in Group D of this seasons’ Champions League alongside AFC Ajax, Atalanta and FC Midtjylland.
The draw took place in Geneva earlier today.
With the ongoing situation surrounding COVID-19 being nowhere near finished, the opportunity for fans to attend games is no longer there.
Sean Lawless, fan and regular attendee at Liverpool’s away European games, feels as though the shine has been taken away from this year’s competition.
He said: “The draw is usually one of the best days of the year seeing what new places and countries you get to tick off.
“Although it’s a favourable draw football-wise, it’s gutting not being able to go, especially as league champions.
“The groups being the start of the road to Istanbul with Liverpool hoping to repeat their run of 2005 is also a massive disappointment.”
Jurgen Klopp’s side fell at the Round of 16 stage in last season’s competition, exiting at the hand of Atletico Madrid.
The Reds came far below the bar they set the season prior, beating Spurs 2-0 in the final.
The one tie fans wanted to avoid this year was, perhaps, Ajax.
Scousers have a certain relationship with the Dutch capital and for fans like Sean who are unable to go due to COVID restrictions, is especially unfortunate.
This is made worse by the fact that the last competitive meeting between Liverpool and Ajax was all the way back in 1966.
The two played out a 2-2 draw at Anfield in that year’s European Cup.
However, De Godenzonen demolished Bill Shankley’s Red’s 5-2 at the Amsterdam Arena a week prior. Jurgen Klopp will certainly be hoping for a better outcome this season.
Ajax could well have faced Liverpool in the 2019’s showpiece occasion.
Their impressive campaign came to an end in the 95th minute of their semi-final against Tottenham. Lucas Moura broke Ajax hearts with a last-minute winner.
Atalanta excited thousands across Europe last season. It was their debut season in the Champions League and finished second behind Manchester City in Group C.
They were mightily unfortunate in last year’s competition. Mario Palasic put them ahead against eventual runners up, Paris Saint-Germain.
Two late goals from Marquinhos and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting eliminated the Italians.
PSG’s quality just about overcame Atalanta. However, Gian Piero Gasperini’s side put Valencia to the sword earlier in the competition.
It’s important the Red’s don’t underestimate La Dea as they can cause many sides problems. They secured a point at home to Manchester City last year in the Champions League.
They were the highest-scoring side in Serie A last season, scoring a mammoth 98 goals
This will be the first competitive meeting between the two sides.
Danish side FC Midtjylland are making their debut in the competition this season and are a relative unknown to Jurgen Klopp.
They beat Slavia Prague of the Czech Republic last night to qualify. 1-0 down in the 65th minute, they scored four goals in the last 25 minutes to comfortably ensure their passage to the group stage.
Their last visit to England was in the Europa League round of 32 in the 15/16 season. Manchester United beat them 6-3 on aggregate before being defeated by Liverpool two rounds later.
The first game week will take place on the 20th and 21st of October. UEFA will confirm the fixtures tomorrow evening.
