Champions League draw simulator: Liverpool and Man United get tough away games in a tricky situation
The Champions League draw has been simulated, and it looks like some Premier League teams might face a tough time ahead.
With the first domestic games done across Europe, fans are now excited for the start of the European competitions next month. The Champions League, the most thrilling of them all, kicks off from September 8-10.
The group stage draw for the 2026/27 Champions League will happen this Thursday in Monaco at 5pm BST. This season, 36 teams will take part, including five from the Premier League. Each team will play against eight different opponents — two from each pot (1, 2, 3, and 4).
Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Manchester United will each have four home games and four away games, but they won’t face each other in this first phase.
For the third year in a row, a supercomputer will handle the draw, picking each club’s eight opponents with all the rules in mind at the push of a button.
Before the official draw, we used our own supercomputer to simulate it—and some results weren’t great news for Liverpool and Man United fans.
Liverpool could start with an away game at Feyenoord, the former club of their ex-manager Arne Slot. One tough test coming up is an away trip to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), who are aiming for their third straight Champions League title and are favorites thanks to their star players.
Arsenal might kick off by hosting Azerbaijani newcomers Sabah, a club founded only nine years ago. Their schedule looks manageable, with a tricky rematch against Real Madrid, who they clashed with fiercely in the 2025 quarter-finals.
Man United, like Liverpool, face a tough challenge with an away game at PSG in the simulated draw. Their group includes tough clashes with Sporting, Napoli, Roma, and Bayern Munich—all matches that could see them knocked out early if they’re not at their best.
Manchester City’s simulated draw looks kinder. Managed by Enzo Maresca, they have a smoother path with games against LASK, Stuttgart, Lille, and others, giving them a good chance to advance.
Aston Villa’s draw looks mixed. They have easier games against LASK, Stuttgart, and Lille, but face a tough trip to Norway against Bodø/Glimt and back-to-back matches against Barcelona and Bayern Munich, which will be quite challenging.
While four spots are still to be decided through qualifiers, 32 teams are confirmed for the draw. The four pots are based on UEFA’s club rankings, which look at teams’ results over the last five years.
Here’s a quick look at key dates to keep in mind:
– Matchdays 1-8: September 8 – January 27
– Knockout play-offs: February 16/17 & 23/24
– Round of 16: March 9/10 & 16/17
– Quarter-finals: April 6/7 & 13/14
– Semi-finals: April 27/28 & May 4/5
– Final: June 5
Fans can’t wait to see how it all unfolds!