Klopp's big nemesis next? The dream & nightmare UCL draws for Liverpool, Man Utd, Spurs, City

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All four Premier League clubs taking part in Europe’s elite competition have made it through to the Champions League last 16.

Manchester City topped their group while Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham finished as runners-up after a dramatic final matchday.

The draw for the Round of 16 takes place on Monday and the English clubs will be praying for generous outcomes that might make their paths to the latter stages less hazardous.

So who will Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino be hoping to meet in the next round? And who will they be desperate to avoid? Let’s explore the possibilities.

Tottenham

Best possible opponent: Real Madrid

Mauricio Pochettino’s side topped last season’s group that contained eventual winners Real Madrid. This season, given the calibre of other table-toppers, the north London side will relish a return to the Bernabeu, hoping to make more memories in Spain.

Consider the fact that Real Madrid lost both group games to CSKA Moscow and the reigning champions become a much less frightening proposition.

Worst possible opponent: Paris Saint-Germain

The opposite of which can be said about PSG.

If Tottenham have shown weakness in one position this season, it’s at full-back. Kieran Trippier and Ben Davies have struggled to get going, Danny Rose and Serge Aurier have been in and out of the team with injuries, and Kyle Walker-Peters was at fault for Barcelona’s goal in last group stage game.

It must be said that Rose played brilliantly against Barcelona while Moussa Sissoko did an outstanding job when forced to step in at right-back. Regardless, Spurs have had problems at full-back this term and as a result, PSG are the last side they’ll want to face.

Neymar and Kylian Mbappe are difficult to keep quiet on their worst days. If they turn up against Tottenham, Mauricio Pochettino’s side could exit the competition at the same stage as last season.

Liverpool

Best possible opponent: Bayern Munich

As impressive as they were in the Champions League last season, Liverpool were handed a fairly generous route to the final, coming through ties against Porto and Roma either side of the big one against Manchester City – tough opponents, but it could have been more difficult.

For obvious reasons, a repeat meeting against Porto would certainly be welcome. However, given the apparent frailty of an ageing Bayern Munich side struggling to find an identity under Niko Kovac, Jurgen Klopp could do much worse than a trip to his former Bundesliga rivals.

Worst possible opponent: Juventus

Had they faced Juventus in the last 16, Klopp’s men might have stumbled. The Italian giants are famously solid at the back, and this year they’ve added goals by signing one of the most clinical forwards in the history of the game, and an old foe of Liverpool’s, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Liverpool have the potential to run riot against anyone with their counter-attacking approach, particularly at Anfield. But if Juventus manage to keep the scoreline tight, they will have a good chance of knocking the Reds out.

Man City 

Best possible opponent: Schalke

Manchester City are the only Premier League side to top their group. Subsequently, they are likely to receive an easier draw than their Premier League rivals, and there’s no doubting a last 16 clash with Schalke will be the most welcome result.

Schalke scored just six goals in the group stage and have found the net just 15 times in 14 Bundesliga games so far this season. City shouldn’t have too much trouble keeping them out, and the fact Schalke conceded just four goals in the group stages should be offset by the attacking talent Guardiola has at his disposal.

Worst possible opponent: Atletico Madrid

Guardiola has won two of his three meetings with Diego Simeone, losing the other. But regardless of past records, Atletico have the potential to frustrate even the most fluid of footballing sides. And as Chelsea proved earlier this season, the Premier League champions can be kept out.

A surprise 4-0 defeat at Borussia Dortmund aside, Atletico conceded just two goals across their other five group matches. Even City could struggle to break down Simeone’s inexplicably effective backline that sits in front of one of the world’s leading goalkeepers, Jan Oblak.

City are able to find gaps in the tightest defences, but the gaps Atletico leave are that little bit narrower, almost non-existent.

Man United

Best possible opponent: Porto

Despite a memorable victory in Turin, Jose Mourinho’s side were far from convincing in the group stage. The Red Devils’ manager admitted as much, so a return to the club with which he won his first Champions League title certainly provides the best chance of making it one stage further at least.

Porto, rather surprisingly, won more points (16) than any other team in this season’s group stage. But despite their impressive tally, Michael Owen believes the Portuguese champions are the only side Man Utd have a chance of beating.

“If they played next week I think they could beat Porto but I’d be very, very worried against anyone else,” was the former Man Utd striker’s verdict on BT Sport.

Worst possible opponent: Barcelona

Manchester United have lost their last two encounters with Barcelona, both of which came in Champions League finals. In terms of personnel, both teams have changed drastically since the last meeting in 2011, but one feature has remained constant: Lionel Messi.

The Argentinian found the net in each of Barcelona’s final victories over United, and he is just as effective now as he ever was. Messi, who ran the show at Wembley against Tottenham in the group stage, will be relishing the prospect of another trip to England, particularly if he is up against United’s leaky defence; with 22 goals and six assists in 30 games, his Champions League record against Premier League clubs is unmatched.

Mourinho has a mixed record against Barcelona, having won eight, drawn nine and lost 10 of his 27 clashes with them. It would take a miracle for the Red Devils to overcome the La Liga giants on his occasion.

The post The best & worst possible Champions League draw for each Premier League club appeared first on Squawka News.



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