Liverpool route to Champions League final: Reds could…

Liverpool route to Champions League final: Reds could be handed Real Madrid tie after tough draw

Liverpool are on the same path as Real Madrid in the Champions League knockout phase - (Getty Images)

Liverpool have been drawn into the more difficult half of the Champions League knockout phase bracket.

Arne Slot’s side, who finished top of the league phase last season only to face Paris Saint-Germain in the last-16, finished third this year to book their place straight through to the knockout stages.

However, for the second year in a row, their higher-placed finish in the table has not resulted in a more generous draw as they might have hoped. That said, they will have the advantage of playing the second leg of their last-16 tie at Anfield.

Liverpool will take on Galatasaray in the last-16, setting up the chance for Slot’s side to gain a measure of revenge after being narrowly beaten in Turkey during the league phase.

Galatasaray were involved in the most entertaining knockout phase play-off tie, beating Juventus 7-5 on aggregate having let a three-goal first-leg lead slip before getting the job done in extra-time in the second leg.

This is the more favourable of the two possible outcomes, though if the Reds had drawn Atletico Madrid it could have led to a quarter-final showdown against Newcastle or Barcelona.

Should Liverpool overcome Galatasaray, a mouthwatering quarter-final tie awaits against holders Paris Saint-Germain or Premier League rivals Chelsea.

The Reds have plenty of history against both teams in the Champions League, losing to PSG on penalties in the last-16 a year ago and beating Chelsea in the semi-final in 2005 en route to beating AC Milan in that remarkable final in Istanbul.

Liverpool were knocked out of the Champions League last season by eventual winners PSG (Getty Images)

There is a possibility that Liverpool meet Real Madrid in the semi-final.

Los Blancos, Manchester City, Atalanta and Bayern Munich are the four potential opponents, as Man City head to Spain once again and Bayern will be expected to eliminate Italy’s last representative in the the competition.

Real have not been at their best this season, but they can never be discounted in the Champions League and Trent Alexander-Arnold may face a second return to Anfield following his move last summer.

If Liverpool were to reach the 2026 Champions League final, they could face one of Arsenal, Barcelona or Atletico Madrid at the Puskas Arena, in Budapest.