Liverpool handed title race advantage after European draws

Liverpool, Arsenal, and City are locked in a three-way battle for the Premier League Title, but all three are also in European competition, with Arsenal and City being handed tough Champions League draws earlier today.

The Premier League is heading towards a gripping climax, with Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City separated by just a single point.  With only ten games left to play, all three clubs will be looking for any small advantage over their title rivals, which is why today's Champions League and Europa League draws could prove vital to each team's chances.

LFC - Back On Our Perch reviews both draws and discusses how they might impact the Premier League title race.

Champions League Quarter-Final Draw

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich
Man City vs Real Madrid

Games to be played 9-10th April and 16-17th April

Champions League Semi-Final Draw

Arsenal or Bayern Munich vs Man City or Real Madrid

Games to be played 30th April-1st May and 7-8 May

Europa League Quarter-Final Draw

Liverpool vs Atalanta

Games to be played 11th and 18th April

Europa League Semip-Final Draw

Liverpool or Atalanta vs Benfica or Marseille

Games to be played 2nd and 9th May

How will European games impact the Premier League title race?

We'll start with Liverpool, and their Europa League draw.  Firstly, Jurgen Klopp and his players should be very content with the draw.  Atalanta are not the weakest team in the competition, but the Reds should have no fear playing them either.  Both teams have met once before, in the 2020 Champions League group stages, with Liverpool winning 5 - 0 away, but losing 2 - 0 at home (after fielding a weakened team).  Both teams have changed significantly since then, with Liverpool having far greater strength-in-depth now than they did 4 years ago.  With the Quarter-Final matches not taking place for another three weeks, Klopp should have several first-team players back from injury, including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ryan Gravenberch, Alisson Becker, and Curtis Jones, giving him many more options when it comes to selecting this Starting XI.  If you then factor in the Anfield crowd, and the energy and momentum surrounding Jurgen Klopp's final season in charge, Liverpool should prove far too strong for Atalanta.

With regards to the Semi-Finals, Liverpool have been handed the much easier side of the draw, avoiding Bayer Leverkusen, Milan, Roma, and West Ham.  Instead, the Reds would face either Benfica or Marseille in the Semis.  Liverpool have beaten Benfica several times in recent seasons, so would have no fear of facing the Portuguese side, whilst Marseille are probably the weakest team left in the competition.

Liverpool are due to play Manchester United at Old Trafford 4 days before the Quarter-Final first leg, then Crystal Palace at home, before facing Fulham three days after the second leg.  The United game will be difficult, but Klopp should be able to rotate his players for the Palace and Fulham matches, whilst a big win in the first leg against Atalanta, would make the trip to Italy much easier.

In contrast to Liverpool, both Arenal and Man City have been handed difficult Quarter-Final matches in the Champions League, with Arsenal facing Bayern Munich, and City again facing Real Madrid.  Though I expect City and Arsenal to win their respective ties, Arteta and Guardiola will need to field full-strength teams for both games.  If both English sides do progress, they will face each other in the Semi-Finals.

The Champions League Quarter-Finals take place in mid-April when Arsenal are due to play Brighton (away), Aston Villa, Wolves (away), and Tottenham (away).  Certainly, that is not an easy run of games, especially when you add in the two games against Bayern.  Man City are due to face Crystal Palace (away), Luton Town, and Tottenham (away), as well as Real Madrid.  Whilst this run of matches is easier than Arsenal's, it will still be challenging, with both teams likely to drop points at some stage in April.

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