Liverpool Draw Manchester City In The Champions League Quarterfinals

The Reds face a familiar domestic foe from just down the road.

We’ve all been waiting. All of us. And now The Pingpong Balls Of Destiny™ have finally spoken, telling us that Liverpool will face Manchester City in the 2017/18 Champions League quarterfinals. The Reds will host the first leg at Anfield, before making the return leg just down the road at The Etihad. This was probably the last team that Liverpool fans wanted to face for a variety of reasons, but face them we must.

Liverpool are back in the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time since 2009. When the Reds get to this stage in the competition, they boast an impressive record—9 wins (including their first quarterfinal appearance against German side Köln, won with a coin flip) and only 4 losses. On the other hand, this is only City’s second trip this deep into the competition, winning in 2015/16 over PSG.

The draw was started with the help of a familiar face: retired Ukrainian striker, and three-time Champions League finalist, Andriy Shevchenko, was the designated ambassador to help with the draw. Of course, Liverpool fans will remember Shevchenko from his role with the 2005 AC Milan side in Istanbul (and especially his multiple late-game misses, including the finally penalty). He apparently remembered too, giving Liverpool a harsh draw, while sparing Barcelona and Bayern (see below).

The fixtures are slated to take place on consecutive weeks, April 3-4 for the first leg, and April 10-11 for the return leg. There will be another draw for the semifinalists on April 13, including a draw to determine which side gets to wear home colors in the final.

The other draws are (the home side in the first leg listed first):

• FC Barcelona vs. AS Roma
• Sevilla FC vs. FC Bayern Munich
• Juventus vs. Real Madrid

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com