Liverpool draw familiar side once again as they learn their UCL fate

The Champions League group stage draw is a popular day in the calendar of many football fans.

The excitement of all new matchups that haven’t been seen for years, the ‘group of death’, the giant clubs being drawn together.

Liverpool fans have become accustomed to being a part of this draw over recent years and this was no different.

Revenge against Madrid? Another bout against European giants AC Milan? What did this year’s draw have in store?

As the Red’s were in pot two this time around, they were guaranteed to face either a domestic league winner or last year’s Europa League winners.

The first confirmed opponents for Jurgen Klopp’s side was another side with a successful European background, Ajax.

While the two sides were drawn together during the 2020/21 season, fans were not allowed into the stadiums due to covid and thus, Liverpool fans missed out on a trip to Amsterdam.

Winning both ties by a single goal to nil during that campaign, Klopp will be hoping for history to repeat itself.

Speaking of history repeating itself, the next team drawn and placed into the group was Napoli, of course it was.

A huge sigh will have been heard across Merseyside upon the realisation that once again, these sides would go at it.

In both the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons, these sides went toe to toe in the group stages.

Either team won their home match 1-0 in 2018/19 and the resulting win at Anfield sent Liverpool through to the knockout stages.

They also went on to win the competition for a sixth time that season.

However, a 1-1 draw and 2-0 loss the following year against the same opponents means that the Reds have only come out on top once in four meetings.

While the past is the past, the Italians have become somewhat of a bogey team for Klopp and his players.

Hopefully winning both ties against eventual Serie A champions AC Milan last term will give Liverpool confidence when heading back to Italy.

The third and final team standing in the way of qualification to the round of sixteen was left to be drawn.

In what can be seen as the ‘Steven Gerrard rivalry’ or the ‘Ben Davies rivalry’ if you will, Rangers were the final team inserted into the group.

Promising two magical European nights between two very passionate fanbases.

The team from Glasgow went all the way to the Europa League final last season and are not to be taken lightly.

While three points will be expected from the home tie, travelling to Scotland will be a big test for Liverpool.

It's not often you can find a ground as lively as Anfield on a European night, but Ibrox is undoubtedly up there.

Are you happy with the outcome of the draw or did you have your sights set on a particular team?