Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool will find out their opponents today when the draw takes place for the 2018-2019 Uefa Champions League group stage.
The 32-team stage features the four Premier League sides as well as European giants such as Barcelona, Juventus, Bayern Munich and the current holders Real Madrid.
‘Group of death’
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After the conclusion of the six play-off matches, it was determined that Liverpool would drop down into pot three.
Based on the Uefa club coefficient rankings, Portugal’s Benfica took the final spot in pot two after their play-off win against Greek side PAOK.
Despite reaching last season’s final, which they lost 3-1 to Real Madrid, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool could now be drawn in a “group of death”, the London Evening Standard reports.
Klopp’s side could face a group featuring one of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain, plus Borussia Dortmund, Napoli or AS Roma.
There is even the chance that four previous Champions League winners - Inter Milan, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona/Real Madrid - could be drawn in the same group.
Uefa awards
During today’s Champions League group draw the Uefa awards will be announced for the following categories:
- Uefa Men’s Player of the Year
- Uefa Women’s Player of the Year
- Goalkeeper of the 2017/18 Uefa Champions League season
- Defender of the 2017/18 Uefa Champions League season
- Midfielder of the 2017/18 Uefa Champions League season
- Forward of the 2017/18 Uefa Champions League season
Champions League group stage draw guide
When and where is the draw?
The Champions League group stage draw is at 5pm (UK time) on Thursday 30 August at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.
What TV channel is the draw on?
The draw will be streamed on Uefa.com. BT Sport will also show live coverage.
Which teams have qualified?
- Spain: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia
- England: Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool
- Germany: Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Schalke, Hoffenheim
- Italy: Juventus, Napoli, Roma, Inter Milan
- France: Paris Saint-Germain, Lyon, Monaco
- Russia: Lokomotiv Moscow, CSKA Moscow
- Portugal: Porto, Benfica
- Ukraine: Shakhtar Donetsk
- Turkey: Galatasaray
- Belgium: Club Brugge
- Czech Republic: Viktoria Plzen
- Switzerland: Young Boys
- Netherlands: Ajax, PSV
- Greece: AEK Athens
- Serbia: Red Star Belgrade
How the draw works
According to Uefa.com the teams are split into four pots:
- Pot one will feature the holders (Real Madrid), Europa League winners (Atletico Madrid) and the champions of the six highest-ranked nations
- Pots two to four are determined by the club coefficient rankings
- No team can play a club from their own association
- The exact draw procedure will be confirmed before the ceremony
Which teams are in which pots?
- Pot one: Real Madrid (holders), Atletico Madrid (Europa League winners), Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Lokomotiv Moscow
- Pot two: Borussia Dortmund, Porto, Manchester United, Shakhtar Donetsk, Benfica, Napoli, Tottenham, Roma
- Pot three: Liverpool, Schalke, Lyon, Monaco, Ajax, CSKA Moscow, PSV, Valencia
- Pot four: Viktoria Plzen, Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Young Boys, Inter Milan, Hoffenheim, Red Star Belgrade, AEK Athens
What dates are the Champions League group fixtures?
- 18/19 September: group stage, matchday one
- 2/3 October: group stage, matchday two
- 23/24 October: group stage, matchday three
- 6/7 November: group stage, matchday four
- 27/28 November: group stage, matchday five
- 11/12 December: group stage, matchday six
Champions League key dates
- 17 December: round of 16 draw
- 12/13 and 19/20 February: round of 16, first leg
- 5/6 and 12/13 March: round of 16, second leg
- 15 March: quarter-final and semi-final draw
- 9/10 April: quarter-finals, first leg
- 16/17 April: quarter-finals, second leg
- 30 April/1 May: semi-finals, first leg
- 7/8 May: semi-finals, second leg
When is the 2018-2019 Champions League final?
The final is on Saturday 1 June at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid.
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