Manchester City's pursuit of a third consecutive Premier League title has been mapped out after the fixtures for the 2019/20 season were released on Thursday morning. Pep Guardiola's side begin their campaign with a trip to West Ham on Saturday August 10th, while their season concludes at home against Norwich City on Sunday May 17. However, the Premier League is not the only piece of silverware City will be chasing in 2019/20 as Guardiola will also be keen to get his hands on the Champions League for the first time in the club's history. While City will not know their group-stage opponents until the end of August, the dates for the upcoming season have been released and provide an idea of what awaits. The group stage draw will take place on Thursday August 29th, slotting in after City's trip to Bournemouth and before the hosting of Brighton at the Etihad Stadium. City's first Champions League match of the season will be played on either the September 18 or 19, slotting in after a … [Read more...] about Manchester City learn 2019/20 Champions League fixture dates
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The teams Liverpool can play in Champions League next season
Liverpool's victory over Tottenham Hotspur didn't just earn them a sixth European Cup. It also gave them the opportunity of an easier route through the group stages in next season's Champions League. By beating the Londoners 2-0 in Madrid on Saturday evening, Jurgen Klopp's side are top seeds for the draw, which takes place in Monaco on August 29. There are 32 teams in the group stage. Of those, 26 have already qualified with the remaining six earning their place through the qualification rounds, which begin next month. For the group stage draw, the teams are split into four pots of eight teams, with one team taken from each pot. Pot One consists of the Champions League holders, the Europa League holders, and the champions of the leading European leagues, based on UEFA's league coefficient, which is calculated over performances in Europe over the past five years. The remaining three groups are split based on a club's UEFA coefficient. It's why last season Liverpool were in Pot Three … [Read more...] about The teams Liverpool can play in Champions League next season
Liverpool sent massive Champions League warning
Kop idol Luis Garcia fears Lionel Messi is set to unleash his genius on Liverpool . Garcia, the Spanish forward who was a Champions League winner with the Reds 14 years ago, believes Barcelona ’s brilliant Argentine is on a one-man mission to be once again crowned the king of European football. And that spells bad news for Liverpool. Garcia has pinpointed Messi as the man who can make a decisive difference when Liverpool meet Barca in their two-legged semi-final. He reckons the 31-year-old has been inspired by arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo leading Real Madrid to three successive Champions League triumphs. And, while the Catalan giants have cruised it in the Spanish league this season, it is European glory that is driving Messi on. Garcia said: “Messi said, at the start of the season, that his aim is to win the Champions League again. “And that message has been repeated by the other Barcelona players throughout the year. … [Read more...] about Liverpool sent massive Champions League warning
Virgil van Dijk compared to Arsenal and Chelsea Premier League winners
Virgil van Dijk is currently playing as well as John Terry and Tony Adams at their peaks, according to former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson. The Netherlands international has been a hit at Anfield since his £75 million move from Premier League rivals Southampton and has helped put the Reds within touching distance of a first league title in 29 years. They currently lead Manchester City by two points at the top of the table, but have played one game more than the defending champions as the season nears its end. Van Dijk has also played a crucial role in setting up Liverpool's Champions League semi-final with Barcelona , producing composed displays and scoring away goals against both Bayern Munich and Porto in the previous two rounds. As a result of his commanding displays for Jurgen Klopp's side this season, former Reds defender Lawrenson has backed the 27-year-old to win the PFA Player of the Year award, comparing him to former Arsenal and Chelsea centre-backs Adams … [Read more...] about Virgil van Dijk compared to Arsenal and Chelsea Premier League winners
Liverpool set Champions League semi-final date with Barcelona
Liverpool will be reunited with Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez next month after reaching their second successive Champions League semi-final. The Reds will face Barcelona for a place in the final after they beat Porto 4-1 on Wednesday night to progress 6-1 on aggregate. Barca booked their berth on Tuesday when they followed last week's 1-0 win at Manchester United with ex-Red Coutinho scoring in a 3-0 stroll at Camp Nou. If both Manchester United and City had progressed, Liverpool would have lost their home advantage in the second leg. But now Liverpool travel to Spain for the first leg on April 30 or May 1 with the second leg at Anfield on May 7 or 8. The winners will face either Ajax or Spurs in the final in Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano stadium on June 1. It is the 10th time Liverpool have reached the semi-finals of the European Cup. Of the previous nine, they have lost only twice – to Inter Milan in 1965 and Chelsea in 2008. The Reds have been drawn to face … [Read more...] about Liverpool set Champions League semi-final date with Barcelona