Liverpool are not the outright favourites to win the Champions League following the outcome of the recent knockout draw, former Reds striker John Aldridge has claimed.
Arne Slot‘s men were the best team on the continent during the opening phase, winning each of their first seven matches and only suffering one loss, an inconsequential 3-2 defeat to PSV Eindhoven on the final matchday.
Liverpool’s exceptional performances in the league phase saw them top the 36-team table on 21 points, but they have been handed a daunting path to the Munich final, firstly coming up against Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain in their last-16 showdown.
The six-time European champions could then meet Aston Villa in an all-British quarter-final and Arsenal in an all-British semi-final, although Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are also potential opponents in the last four.
As a result, Aldridge – who netted 63 goals in 104 games for Liverpool – does not believe that his former side can be considered the favourites, telling Buzz: “No, not now, I think it’s open.
Ex-Liverpool star Aldridge “gutted” at Champions League draw outcome
“Madrid, Liverpool or Barcelona favourites, and then you’ve got obviously PSG. All of a sudden, they’ve upped the ante. They’re looking really good. Atletico Madrid, they’re dangerous. It’s going to be really tough half of the group.
“You’ve got to really play well and get a little bit of luck in there. Whoever gets the final is going to deserve it, put it that way, because there’s no easy games at all.
“The other side, there’s still some really good teams in there, but not like the Italian teams of old. They’re well beatable. And all the teams in there, Barcelona, unless they b**** up, should get to the final.
“You have to say Barcelona have got a really good way to the final, finishing second, and I’m gutted! Obviously you didn’t want the three English sides to be in the same pot, to make it more interesting. We played Chelsea a couple of times in the semis years ago, they were great games.”
Comparing Liverpool and Barcelona’s paths to the Champions League final
© Imago
Liverpool finishing first in the Champions League league phase appeared to have been more of a curse than a blessing when PSG were drawn out, but the fact of the matter is that the French champions underwhelmed in the league phase, hence their 15th-placed ranking.
By that logic, Liverpool can have few complaints about facing the Ligue 1 holders in the last 16, and Barcelona still have to navigate their way past a couple of revered foes to make it to Munich.
Granted, La Blaugrana’s last-16 opponents Benfica do not strike as much fear into the hearts as PSG, but Barca shipped four to the Portuguese side in a 5-4 win during the league phase and may then have to face last year’s beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund in the last eight.
Hansi Flick‘s men will of course be the favourites to defeat a BVB side who have lost their way this term, but a semi-final against one of Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen or Inter Milan could prove to be anyone’s game.
Liverpool head to the Parc des Princes for the first leg of their last-16 tie with PSG on Wednesday evening, where the in-form Mohamed is wrong will be aiming to extend a Champions League record.
John Aldridge was speaking to Buzz on behalf of talkSPORT BET.
