As the dust settles on a frantic play-off round in the UEFA Champions League, Arne Slot’s Liverpool side finally have a clear view of the mountain they must climb to reach the Champions League final 2025/2026 in Budapest.
With the Reds currently locked in a relentless battle for a top-four spot in the Premier League, the European stage has taken on a dual significance: a quest for silverware and a potential “back door” into next season’s competition.
Following Atletico Madrid’s dominant 4-1 dismantling of Club Brugge on Tuesday night securing a 7-4 aggregate victory the field for the last 16 has narrowed. For Liverpool, the stakes are now crystal clear.
The draw: A three-way ticket to the continent
The Arne Slot era in Europe has been many things, but it certainly hasn’t been dull.
Liverpool have successfully navigated the Champions League league phase, booking a direct ticket to the last 16 and bypassing the unwanted stress of a two-legged play-off. But while a third-place finish and six wins from eight looks clinical on paper, the road to the knockouts was far from a smooth ride for the Dutchman.
There were, of course, the dark clouds. Most notably, that humiliating 4-1 home defeat to PSV back in November a night where the Anfield aura evaporated and Slot’s side looked startlingly fragile. It was a result that raised uncomfortable questions about the squad’s depth and their ability to handle high-transition European nights.
However, the Reds are safely through. Having failed to materialise this term, the focus shifts. Liverpool have always been a club that defines itself by European success, and this season is no different.
The Champions League now represents a genuine opportunity to still pick up some silverware and transform a transitional season into a golden one.
Because of the tournament’s new bracketed and seeded format, Liverpool’s potential opponents have been whittled down to a trio of European heavyweights. Having finished third in the league phase, the Reds are paired with fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, meaning the two English giants are placed on opposite sides of the bracket and it is impossible for Liverpool and Spurs to meet before the final.
Liverpool will be drawn against one of the following:
Atletico Madrid
Galatasaray
Juventus
The identity of the final opponent depends on Wednesday’s clash between Galatasaray and Juventus, with the Turkish side currently holding a commanding 5-2 lead from the first leg.
The scheduling minefield: why the Spurs game is safe
For the Anfield faithful, the logistical headache of the Round of 16 usually involves more than just booking flights to Madrid or Turin. Liverpool are currently scheduled to host Tottenham at Anfield on Sunday, March 15, a fixture that sits precariously between the two legs of their European tie.
With the second legs slated for March 17/18, a Tuesday fixture would typically force the Premier League to move the domestic game forward to Saturday. However, BBC reporter Dale Johnson has provided clarity on why the Liverpool vs. Spurs game is unlikely to be moved, despite Arsenal’s clash with Everton on the same day facing a certain reschedule.
The reason lies in UEFA’s strict city-clash guidelines. As Johnson explains, the two North London rivals, Arsenal and Spurs, cannot host European fixtures on the same night because:
“No more than one match should be played in the same city/cities/venue within a 50-kilometre (31-mile) radius of each other on the same day, in order to ensure adequate policing and security resources.”
Unpicking the Premier League's fixture announcement around the Champions League games.
Means it looks pretty certain that:
Arsenal play their UCL games Weds, March 11 and Tuesday, March 17
Liverpool and Tottenham play their UCL games Tues, March 10 and Wednesday, March 18
Because both Arsenal and Spurs finished in the top eight, they both hold “home” advantage for the second leg. While the Premier League’s official website notes the Arsenal game is subject to change, it remains silent on the Liverpool fixture. The suggestion is that only having to move one team involved in European competition rather than two would be preferable for the Premier League.
A brutal March sprint
If the schedule holds, Arne Slot faces a tactical nightmare just before the international break. Liverpool fans can breathe a sigh of relief regarding travel plans, but the players face a grueling three games in seven days, including one turnaround of little more than 60 hours.
For Slot, navigating this period without sacrificing league position or European progression will be the ultimate test of his debut season.
As it stands, winning the Champions League may end up being the only route back into the competition next season, adding a layer of desperation to do well in this competition also in case they don’t get into the ‘top five’.
Nazira Yusuf is a versatile sports journalist and dedicated Liverpool supporter who brings a wealth of experience from the front lines of the Premier League.
As a reporter she is a familiar face in press rooms, delivering breaking news, injury updates, and tactical insights on the Reds on match days.
Follow Nazira for authoritative coverage as Liverpool battles for domestic and European glory.
