Liverpool learn who they could face in Champions League qualifier

Liverpool will learn their fate for their Champions League play-off opponents on Friday, with five potential opponents on the horizon.

After finishing fourth in the Premier League in the 2016/17 season, Jurgen Klopp’s side will have to win a two-legged third-round match to enter the group stages of the top European competition.

Should they suffer defeat, the Reds will be forced to compete in the Europa League, which would be a major blow to everyone associated with the club after holding off Arsenal for a place in the top-four.

Standing in their way will be one of five teams across the continent from Germany, Romania, France, Turkey and Switzerland.

Nice, Steaua Bucharest, Hoffenheim, Istanbul Basaksehir or Young Boys Bern will line-up against Klopp’s men on either Auguest 16 or August 17 and again in the second leg on August 22 or August 23.

Liverpool are one of the seeded teams at this stage, along with Napoli, Sevilla, CSKA Moscow and Sporting Lisbon so they have avoided the toughest teams who are yet to qualify for the competition.

Having said that, there are still some potentially intriguing ties on offer.

Mario Balotelli could well return to Anfield with Ligue 1 side Nice, in what would be the pick of the contests, while Liverpool could be forced to play on Young Boys’ plastic pitch – something they had to do in the Europa League group stages back in 2012/2013.

Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur have all already qualified for the Champions League group stages.

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