Liverpool may be set for three new European away trips as their Champions League path becomes more defined.
Liverpool supporters could be in for some unusual European away trips this season, depending on how the Champions League draw unfolds tomorrow evening.
Just after 5pm, the Reds will learn which eight teams they’ll face in the league phase of the competition—a stage they topped last season during its first run under the new format.
While matchups against familiar powerhouses like Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, or Napoli seem likely, there’s also the possibility of facing some completely new opponents.
Liverpool could be drawn against Champions League newcomers
Three more clubs secured their spots in the league phase on Tuesday night as the play-off round nears its conclusion, and all of them have reached the group stage for the first time ever, according to UEFA.com.
Among them, Bodo/Glimt is the most well-known, having made regular appearances in European competitions and reached the Europa League semi-finals last season before falling to eventual winners Tottenham Hotspur.
Cypriot side Pafos, formed only a year before Joe Gomez joined Liverpool, could also be in the mix after stunning 1991 European champions Red Star Belgrade. They only began competing in Europe last season.
Meanwhile, Kairat Almaty grabbed headlines in the UK after knocking out Celtic on penalties, becoming just the second team from Kazakhstan to qualify for the Champions League. Based over 7,000 km from Liverpool and close to the Chinese border, their inclusion could mean a particularly long away journey.
Liverpool have never faced any of these three debutants before.
Long-haul away days could be on the cards
Last season’s European trips were relatively kind to Liverpool in terms of distance, with games in countries like Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and France. Even in the Europa League, their furthest ventures were to scenic cities like Linz and Prague.
But this year could be a different story. A potential trip to Kairat Almaty would be Liverpool’s furthest ever away game, while an away fixture against Bodo/Glimt would mark their most northerly European visit, with the Norwegian club located inside the Arctic Circle.
Since those two teams are in separate pots, it’s entirely possible that Liverpool could travel to both. The draw will pair them with two teams from each of the four pots—one home, one away—while limiting matchups to a maximum of two clubs from the same country, and none from England.
Everything will become clearer after tomorrow’s draw, but Tuesday’s surprise results have paved the way for some potentially unforgettable away days for Liverpool fans—ones that even seasoned European travellers might not have anticipated.









