After all the years of pain and hurt suffered by the ever so loyal Liverpool supporters, us fans can now finally call ourselves a Champions League team. It is the most prestigious of club competitions world football has to offer, and come September the 16th, Brendan's men will walk out those famous Anfield tunnels to be blinded by the glowing night time headlights, as at 7:45 pm that night, Liverpool will start their European adventure, with a home tie against Ludogorets. Here is a list of each one of Liverpool's group stage matches, including dates and times for you red men to mull over ;
Tuesday, 16th September Ludogorets (Bulgaria) Anfield, 7:45 pm
Wednesday, 1st October Basel (Switzerland) St. Jakob Park, 7:45 pm
Wednesday, 22nd October Real Madrid (Spain) Anfield, 7:45 pm
Tuesday, 4th November Real Madrid (Spain) Bernabeu, 7:45 pm
Wednesday, 26th November Ludogorets (Bulgaria) Ludogorets Arena, 7:45 pm
Tuesday, 9th December Basel (Switzerland) Anfield, 7:45 pm
The stand out fixture being a definite one, Liverpool vs Real Madrid of course. Cristiano Ronaldo vs Glen Johnson. Leaving that horror thought to one side, Brendan's men have reasonable cause for optimism whilst looking at their group in group B. No Champions League match is an easy task, of course, yet a top two finish should be a necessity for the reds. If you take out two home wins, an away win, and an away draw, you are already rewarded with ten points, which on many occasions proves enough to see yourselves through safely enough. Then of course, I have left out the two giant battles on our hands against the holders of the cup in Madrid, a team who Brendan won't give in too easily to, there is no doubting that.
Anfield is a daunting venue for any club in world football to visit, and Liverpool will look to win the group in order to prevent a couple of possible big gun match ups in draw for the the next round. Real Madrid know themselves the calibre of opposition they face in Liverpool, as they previously witnessed when the two teams last locked horns in 2009.
A more in-depth preview of the Madrid clash will arrive in due time, but in this blog I am asking the question, what exactly can us reds fans expect from this season's Champions League? Will Liverpool prove to be the 'dark horses' of the competition, much like Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid in previous years? Simeone's Atletico side were newbies to the European stage themselves, yet brushed their way passed the likes of Chelsea and Barcelona. It took a late Real Madrid headed goal in the final to prevent Atletico from going all the way and winning it, however it was not meant to be or the Spaniards, as they sought revenge on their rivals by pipping them to the La Liga title instead.
Liverpool's European New Boys : A help or hindrance?
Leaving aside some more of the experienced of the Liverpool players such as Stevie G, Balotelli, Johnson and Martin Skrtel, most of the reds current crop of professionals have little or no taste of the beauty of European football with any club. Will the travelling, ongoing pressure to keep performing week in, week out prove too much or a couple of these individuals? Will the spine tingling Champions League theme song being blasted around Anfield's speakers prove to scare a few of these first timers, or will it spur them on even more? The latter, let us all hope.
Let us not forget the boss himself is a 'newbie' of sorts in this competition, and he will no doubt look at this season as an adventure, challenge and learning curve for himself and his staff.We definitely won't be seeing the Northern Irishman tinkering with his squad of players. He will put out a strong starting eleven, one who he thinks can rival any European team on any night. For me personally, I am eagerly awaiting to see the likes of magical Coutinho, dazzling Raheem, and deadly Sturridge strut their stuff on this stage or the first time. (Let us just hope to God none of the big European teams take a fancy in any of the reds' stars).
Steven Gerrard : Captain, Leader, Legend
When the subject 'Steven Gerrard' arrives in conversation, the word 'legend' or 'leader' usually follow suit. (Unless you are a fan of a rival team, and a blatant liar). Yes, the upcoming campaign is a pivotal one for our captain fantastic. After last season's unlucky climax to an unbelievable league campaign, Stevie will look at the possibility of silverware as a main objective of his this year.
Now, Steven Gerrard is definitely one who brings experience of playing in this competition. From scoring a worldie against Olympiakos to send the reds marching on to the quarter final stage, to that memorable headed goal in the final that same year. (And with the half-time score at 3-0, Liverpool where in desperate need of a goal. Of course, it had to be, Stevie G.) I still find myself laughing and shaking my head in disbelief when I think back to many an occasion where Gerrard has saved and lifted Liverpool, and I begin to think to myself, Where exactly would we be right now if not for our Mr. Reliable captain fantastic? Competing in the Champions League once again? I highly doubt that.
It is pivotal that Gerrard leads from the front in this season's Champions League. With numerous first timers set to grace Anfield on the European stage, it is crucial an experienced head like Stevie's nurtures these individuals forward. Some big matches await Liverpool in the near future, but if anybody can lead Liverpool past this group and onto bigger things, it is Steven Gerrard. Here I leave you with my personal favourite of Gerrard's in this competition, a goal which got even the most passionate of Everton supporters up on his feet in amazement. That 'You Beauty moment from commentator Andy Gray will live long in the memories of us Liverpool fans'.
Steven Gerrard himself must be aching to lead Liverpool out on a Tuesday or Wednesday night yet again, and we reds ans echo that thought entirely. It has a been a long, painful five year wait, but then again, it is better now than never.
Escaping the Group Stages
Forwards we go to the itty gritty league play of the group stages. Four teams, eight groups. Two matches per team in every group, home and away. Top two qualify to the round of 16, simple enough. As most reds fans are already booking their tickets for the round of 16 set of matches, me myself remain unsure. We should be favourites, there is no doubting that, yet some doubt still lingers in my mind, and I do not think it will be as straight forward a passage as most fans are predicting.
Real Madrid
Well, thank God Xabi Alonso has left the Spanish club recently, we will thrash them without their midfield dynamite ! There are other players to look out for of course. Ronaldo, James, Bale and Kroos amongst others, not too shabby an attack it seems, which worries me slightly, looking at our current frailties at the back. (That Ronaldo vs Johnson match up remains one I personally eagerly await). I would snap your hands of for a draw at the Bernabeu, a result which will leave the club in good shape indeed. At Anfield however, with the giant Kop in full voice and support, I believe we can turn Ancelotti's men and get a result. The Madrid boss himself does not have very fond memories of facing Liverpool, with that night in Istanbul still haunting him on occasions. I am not worrying too much about the threat that Real pose, and I strongly believe that a podium finish is more than a possibility for the Anfield club.
Basel
As Chelsea have witnessed in this competition in the past, the Swiss team have proved to be a massive stepping mine, knocking out the English team in the Europa League in 2012, to be followed on by a win in this competition the season that past. A certain Mohamad Salah was on the score sheet the first time round. Liverpool showed great interest in the Egyptian after that, but after talks and a deal failing, the winger opted for a move to the Londoners instead. Let us get this straight, Basel will not be an easy team to get through. On any given night, the Swiss team can defeat any team, and Rodgers' men need to be on their level best to win on both occasions. Leaving that to one side, six points should be what Liverpool are looking for in the two matches, especially if the red men are to cement their position in this elite competition. Steven Gerrard himself will remember the last time the reds faced Basel, back in 2002. Liverpool needed a win to progress from the group stages, as they flew off to Switzerland to visit the Swiss champions. The match finished 3-3, which saw the reds crush out. Going one better this time round is a must of course, as we see a very different reds team enter this fixture, twelve years later.
Ludogorets
Let us quickly spare a thought for the players and fans of Ludogorets alike. Everyone seems to have already brushed aside any slight chances the Bulgarian team ever had. Should Liverpool worry too much about a possible giant killing in the making? I should hope not at least. Any team who qualifies for this competition is in it on merit, however nothing less than six points is a must for the reds, even if they are to finish in second place. Football fans around the world do not know too much about the group minnows, therefore a surprise here and there could be on the cards as Liverpool begin their Champions League journey at home to the Bulgarian's. Come September the 16th, Anfield will be an exceptional sight for sore eyes, as reds fans around Liverpool, England and world prepare to fill Anfield with their ever growing support for the club, in eager anticipation to watch the reds put on a show and get the must needed three points, which above all, is the most important detail.
In conclusion to this blog, I ask myself once again, What exactly can we expect from Liverpool, especially following the draw last Thursday? I personally think one word will sum up Liverpool's adventures in this year's competition : SURPRISE. The reds have been starved of Champions League football for the past five years, and I do not blame many supporters across the world who think we will crush out easily and early on. We lack the experience to go all the way and win it yet, obviously. Then again, did Atletico have the same experience when they made their way to the final last year? Did Borussia Dortmund have it two years back? I fully expect managers' across the world will feel anxious when facing us. This is a very crucial season for the red men, and the amount of positive strives we have taken in the past years will be a key factor in determining the outcome. Can we be about to witness a similar season to the one in 2005? No, it is impossible. Then again, coming from 3-0 down at half time against one of the world's greatest of teams such as the 2005 Milan side is an impossible task in itself. I will be more than happy with a strong run, and a quarter final finish this season round, as Brendan gets ready or the royal rumble that is the UEFA Champions League.
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YNWA
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