Liverpool will reach a European century in this season’s Champions League.
Friday’s draw in Monaco gave them the unusual prospect of three clubs they have never faced before in European competition.
The Reds will face Lyon of France, Fiorentina of Italy and the Hungarians Debreceni in Group E – a welcome distraction after recent seasons which have seen the Reds regularly face the same clubs.
That will take their tally of European opposition to a round ton.
Including English opponents, the Reds will take their proud European total to 105 after they have played Lyon in October.
Boss Rafael Benitez, however, was delighted to avoid any torturous journeys.
“You know in the Champions League there will always be difficult games and tough teams to play against,” he said.
“Lyon might not have won the league last season but before that they won it many years in a row, so we know they have lots of good players who can play good football.
“Fiorentina are an historic club in a nice city. I know from experience they have fanatstic supporters because I spent some time there when Claudio Ranieri was the coach.
“And we have experience of Hungarian football because of our relationship with MTK, so if Debreceni have won their league then we know it means it's because they're a good side.
“The important thing as always is that the travelling isn't too bad, we don't have too far to go for any of the games. We're just looking forward to starting the competition now.”
Benitez will also be pleased at the scheduling of the matches.
In previous campaigns the Reds boss has been unhappy at Champions League away games being followed by away games in the Premier League, with little preparation time in between.
But this season’s first Champions League trip, to Fiorentina on September 29, is a Tuesday night, five days before the trip to Chelsea which has been put back to the following Sunday.
Chelsea must also play away that week, 24 hours after the Reds, in Cyprus against APOEL.
The short trip to Lyon is on Wednesday November 4, but the Reds’ match that weekend has already been moved to Monday night at home to Birmingham, then the longest trip, to Debreceni’s 10,200 capacity stadium on November 24, is on a Tuesday, with the following game a Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, again on a Sunday.
Liverpool’s Champions League Group E fixtures: Sept 16 Debreceni VSC (H), Sept 29 Fiorentina (a), October 20 Lyon (H), November 4 Lyon (a), Nov 24 Debreceni VSC (a), December 9 Fiorentina (H).
Friday’s draw in Monaco gave them the unusual prospect of three clubs they have never faced before in European competition.
The Reds will face Lyon of France, Fiorentina of Italy and the Hungarians Debreceni in Group E – a welcome distraction after recent seasons which have seen the Reds regularly face the same clubs.
That will take their tally of European opposition to a round ton.
Including English opponents, the Reds will take their proud European total to 105 after they have played Lyon in October.
Boss Rafael Benitez, however, was delighted to avoid any torturous journeys.
“You know in the Champions League there will always be difficult games and tough teams to play against,” he said.
“Lyon might not have won the league last season but before that they won it many years in a row, so we know they have lots of good players who can play good football.
“Fiorentina are an historic club in a nice city. I know from experience they have fanatstic supporters because I spent some time there when Claudio Ranieri was the coach.
“And we have experience of Hungarian football because of our relationship with MTK, so if Debreceni have won their league then we know it means it's because they're a good side.
“The important thing as always is that the travelling isn't too bad, we don't have too far to go for any of the games. We're just looking forward to starting the competition now.”
Benitez will also be pleased at the scheduling of the matches.
In previous campaigns the Reds boss has been unhappy at Champions League away games being followed by away games in the Premier League, with little preparation time in between.
But this season’s first Champions League trip, to Fiorentina on September 29, is a Tuesday night, five days before the trip to Chelsea which has been put back to the following Sunday.
Chelsea must also play away that week, 24 hours after the Reds, in Cyprus against APOEL.
The short trip to Lyon is on Wednesday November 4, but the Reds’ match that weekend has already been moved to Monday night at home to Birmingham, then the longest trip, to Debreceni’s 10,200 capacity stadium on November 24, is on a Tuesday, with the following game a Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, again on a Sunday.
Liverpool’s Champions League Group E fixtures: Sept 16 Debreceni VSC (H), Sept 29 Fiorentina (a), October 20 Lyon (H), November 4 Lyon (a), Nov 24 Debreceni VSC (a), December 9 Fiorentina (H).
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