At times it was difficult to get a sense of the new Champions League line-up.
I thought the computer system would be short and sweet, but it definitely wasn’t. And let’s be honest, it was also tiring to watch.
In the end it still produced a lot of tasty links for our British clubs.
The draw for the Champions League took place on Thursday in a new format for the competition
Cristiano Ronaldo (right) and Gianluigi Buffon (left) were involved in the draw for the league stage
ARNE’S CHANCE TO PROVE HE’S RIGHT
Of all our teams, Liverpool’s draw provided the most games to get excited about. Kylian Mbappe travels to Anfield for the first time in six years with Real Madrid, under a former Everton manager in Carlo Ancelotti. A trip to AC Milan and a repeat of that famous final in Istanbul.
The juiciest one, however, will be when Xabi Alonso returns to Anfield as Bayer Leverkusen manager. He seemed the obvious candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp this summer, but he has committed his future to the German club.
Arne Slot will be doubly determined to win this match, because if Leverkusen go to Anfield and take on Liverpool, how many people will say that Alonso is the real successor?
I have been impressed with Slot so far. He is a change from the bloodthirsty Klopp but I like how he has carried himself in his understated manner. It is a tough draw but they have a good chance of going deep.
Arne Slot has been given a big chance to prove his qualities as a Liverpool player after being handed a tough Champions League draw
Liverpool will face a host of top teams in the opening eight matches of the Champions League
Liverpool host reigning champions Real Madrid at Anfield in the league phase
EMOTIONAL NIGHTS FOR VILLA
It’s great to see Villa back at the top of European football. They’re a huge club and have struggled in recent years, so imagine the atmosphere when they welcome Bayern Munich to Villa Park and all the memories of beating the German giants to win the European Cup in 1982. That’s going to be a hell of an emotional night.
And who wouldn’t be excited at the prospect of playing Celtic, former European champions, for the first time. I’ve played for both clubs, so I guess you could call it the Chris Sutton Derby!
If anyone knows how to enjoy European success, it’s Unai Emery, a four-time Europa League winner with Sevilla and Villarreal. Villa also have players, such as Emi Martinez, who know how to handle the big event.
My concern about Villa is whether they have the strength in depth. Their squad looks a bit light, especially if they are unlucky with injuries, and we saw Newcastle struggle with that last season. If they are at full strength, not many teams will want to play them. They will pick up a scalp or two.
Aston Villa make their Champions League debut after Unai Emery led them to a top four finish in the Premier League last season
Villa Park will be a cauldron of noise when clubs like Bayern Munich and Juventus visit
England captain Harry Kane returns to his homeland as Bayern Munich are drawn to face Villa
ARTETA’S DILEMMA
This new format means more games, but that presents Mikel Arteta with a dilemma. Arsenal are desperate to win the Premier League after narrowly missing out in the last two seasons. Will Arteta prioritize his domestic campaign over the Champions League?
The key is to qualify as soon as possible. It’s a good draw for the Gunners, but the real measure will be when we find out what order they will face their opponents in. When are the tougher games? PSG and Inter will be real tests, and Atalanta are the reigning Europa League champions.
Arteta wants to secure qualification before they play them. So they have to be ruthless when the fixture list falls nicely. They don’t want to be in the play-off positions with more games and more pressure. Do it early and focus on winning the league again. That’s the dream.
Mikel Arteta faces a dilemma at Arsenal this season: does he go for the Premier League title or the Champions League?
NEW FORMAT, SAME OLD CITY WALK
City sailed through the old group stage and I don’t see that changing. PSG, Juventus and Inter are tough but they have a huge appeal. And with their strength in depth, quality and experience, they will do what they normally do and breeze through.
Again, not knowing when those ‘tougher’ games will be is key to whether this format works. There could be very little danger left by the time they face the other European giants.
Because you only play teams once, the likes of Slovan Bratislava and Slavia Prague, playing their first Champions League campaign in 19 years, will see this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take on one of Europe’s giants and give it their all. But Pep knows how to do it, and quickly.
Manchester City previously progressed through the Champions League group stage with ease and this is likely to continue in the new format
Pep Guardiola will task his City team with playing teams like Slovan Bratislava and Slavia Prague
A CHANCE FOR BRENDAN
Don’t forget Celtic! They were virtually out of the game after four games last year, so the extra games will give them a chance to show they can compete in Europe under Brendan Rogers. He’ll be looking to make his mark too.
There are games that will excite fans. A Battle of Britain against Villa, a chance to face Borussia Dortmund for the first time since 1992. Supporters will remember beating them in 1987.
I think Celtic have some players who are at Champions League level but also some who aren’t. Losing Matt O’Riley to Brighton is a huge blow.
Big European nights at Celtic Park are special, but you don’t just want to go for the pre-match entertainment. You want to see the team compete and win big. This is a chance to do that.
Celtic manager Brendan Rogers wants to make his mark with the Scottish side in the Champions League
IS THE GAP ONLY GETTING WIDE?
If the big boys win all their first games and the little boys lose, we can expect some boring last rounds of games. That will be the test of this new format.
That also happened in the old group stage, but it seems that this new format shows how big the gap is between the giants and the losers when they are in one big 32-team competition.
We’ve been told that the new format will bring more excitement. It’s not, is it? It’s about more money. Let’s not kid ourselves. That’s the real reason. But we might as well go with it. Let’s just enjoy the football when it comes, because there are some great games.