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After watching their side blow the Premier League title on the final day of the season at Elland Road, Liverpool fans could understandably be forgiven for overlooking the fact that the club had at least qualified for the Champions League for the first time in what seems forever after years of failure under previous regimes.
With the memories of that fateful day in rainy, miserable Leeds gradually fading, Kopites everywhere are starting to turn their attention to the season ahead and in particular are said to be licking their lips at the thought of finally being able to rub shoulders with the elite sides in the game. Indeed the draw for the group stages has already been completed weeks ago and the Reds, who were seeded for the draw by virtue of finishing runners up in the league behind Spurs, find themselves with the unenviable task of facing current holders Paris St Germain as well as previous winners Manchester City and AC Milan.
On paper the group looks one of the strongest and to add to that is the only one which features four managers who have all successfully won the Champions League before in the form of Simon Clark (Paris Saint Germain), Nick Lovell (Manchester City) and Cheyenne Hollis (AC Milan) in addition to Liverpool's current boss Graeme Edwards.
Edwards during the course of his career has in fact tasted success in what many consider the toughest competition in the game on five separate occasions and uniquely with three different clubs - Arsenal once, Juventus once and most recently three times during his spell with EFL1 side Barcelona. So does the Scot see himself as a bit of a specialist in the competition? This is what he had to say when he spoke to the media earlier today
"A specialist?! Ha ha certainly not no. I think I've just been a bit fortunate over the years as I'm sure a certain few of my fellow managers will only be too happy to point out too. It's definitely a competition I love participating in, for me it's the daddy of them all as it brings together the very best sides in the game from England and Europe so it's certainly the place to be and the ultimate test of any manager's ability"
Asked if he thinks his Liverpool side can go all the way to glory in this season's competition the Scot had this to say...
"I think that's asking a lot given the strength of some of the other sides in the tournament. I'm not trying to be negative or play down our chances I'm really just being realistic. Our first objective will be trying to get out of our group which as you can see is absolutely loaded with quality. Get out of the group and then you can really start to dream as I always feel anything can happen in the knockout stages. We have to take encouragement from seeing the likes of Chelsea perform well last season as we showed in the Premier League we are every bit as good a side as they are. So you just never know what can happen but my gut feeling is for our first journey back into the competition for a long long time we would be doing very well to just get out of our group"
Looking at the group then, as you have said there are quality sides and managers to be faced. Who do you see as favourites to win the group or progress?....
"Well I suppose history would show that Paris Saint Germain and Manchester City are the favourites and certainly on paper they have the strongest of the four squads in the group. But saying that I wouldn't be overlooking Cheyenne Hollis at AC Milan who is an extremely capable manager as he has shown over the years. He is good tactically and at getting the best out of his sides and he certainly won't be going into the competition in awe of anyone that's for sure. He's not one to lack confidence and has a real belief in himself and rightly so looking at his track record"
The Scot continued "In my opinion Nick Lovell at Manchester City is the best manager the game has ever seen. He didn't inherit a good side unlike plenty others, he's created a monster and reaped the rewards over a long period of time. That's before you even take into account what he's had to endure in his personal life which for me only adds to the magnitude of what he's achieved. There is a suggestion they might be slightly on the decline but I'm not so sure about that. Yeah they have some older players but Nick isn't stupid and he works the auction and the market well and I am sure he will replace some of the veterans as and when is needed. I love the recent signing of Onana and that midfield looks very special with him in alongside Bernardo Silva, Jude Bellingham and Rovella. Discount City at your peril I would say"
What about the current holders Paris Saint Germain?....
"To be honest I'm not really a fan I have to say. You cannot argue at the quality of squad they have assembled but as I say I'm just not a fan. Their manager....some of the stuff that has gone on in the past and probably still does....I don't know I've pretty much completely switched off from the social media side of the game as a result as I just found it tedious and really starting to wear me down. Just not for me. Excellent team though I'll give them that and probably the side who are most likely to go all the way and win it again"
Oh right ok. What about the competition as a whole then. What other sides can you see being right in the mix?
"I'm really looking forward to seeing how Real Madrid fare under their new manager. I like Freddie and wish him well but I know he's moved on a few of their quality older players such as Virgil Van Dijk, Raheem Sterling and Raphaël Varane and I hope that doesn't hurt them too much. I'm not expecting a Roma style collapse or anything like that but as I say it'll be worth keeping an eye on. Madrid have been a very strong and successful side for a while now and Fred has some big shoes to fill. There is an expectation at that club and I hope he is up to the task and delivers. Their city neighbours Atletico are worth a mention too. They defeated us in the final of the Dave Phillips Trophy and Simon Marsh has done a terrific job there, strengthening from season to season. It would not be a surprise to me in the slightest to see them going deep in the competition "
"Other than that I always think Manchester United are a top class side and not to be under estimated and for me Steve Outten is one of the very best managers out there. That is a cracking group they are in with Real Madrid, Arsenal and Bayern Munich. Arsenal are a very good side again with a top class manager in Darren Humphris and then you have Bayern who have a good young side and also a little bit of that unknown quantity about them with Ant Harris now at the helm. That said I would still fancy Real and Man Utd to progress though and to be right in the shake up when it comes to the trophy being handed out. One other side I'll throw in there, again with a bit of X factor about them under new management is Juventus. I think Tony Ayre is a very good manager and this could well be the chance for him to really show it. He's had success over the years at other clubs but arguably this is the best side he's been in charge of so without wanting to put pressure on the boy I can see them really becoming a force under his guidance"
Edwards concluded "I don't know it's all so difficult to predict really. You look at the likes of Spurs winning the Premier League last season and you can't really rule anything out can you? The usual suspects will be favourites but sometimes in this game you just have to expect the unexpected - which we hope will be the case again especially if we are to have any chance of going the distance"
With the memories of that fateful day in rainy, miserable Leeds gradually fading, Kopites everywhere are starting to turn their attention to the season ahead and in particular are said to be licking their lips at the thought of finally being able to rub shoulders with the elite sides in the game. Indeed the draw for the group stages has already been completed weeks ago and the Reds, who were seeded for the draw by virtue of finishing runners up in the league behind Spurs, find themselves with the unenviable task of facing current holders Paris St Germain as well as previous winners Manchester City and AC Milan.
On paper the group looks one of the strongest and to add to that is the only one which features four managers who have all successfully won the Champions League before in the form of Simon Clark (Paris Saint Germain), Nick Lovell (Manchester City) and Cheyenne Hollis (AC Milan) in addition to Liverpool's current boss Graeme Edwards.
Edwards during the course of his career has in fact tasted success in what many consider the toughest competition in the game on five separate occasions and uniquely with three different clubs - Arsenal once, Juventus once and most recently three times during his spell with EFL1 side Barcelona. So does the Scot see himself as a bit of a specialist in the competition? This is what he had to say when he spoke to the media earlier today
"A specialist?! Ha ha certainly not no. I think I've just been a bit fortunate over the years as I'm sure a certain few of my fellow managers will only be too happy to point out too. It's definitely a competition I love participating in, for me it's the daddy of them all as it brings together the very best sides in the game from England and Europe so it's certainly the place to be and the ultimate test of any manager's ability"
Asked if he thinks his Liverpool side can go all the way to glory in this season's competition the Scot had this to say...
"I think that's asking a lot given the strength of some of the other sides in the tournament. I'm not trying to be negative or play down our chances I'm really just being realistic. Our first objective will be trying to get out of our group which as you can see is absolutely loaded with quality. Get out of the group and then you can really start to dream as I always feel anything can happen in the knockout stages. We have to take encouragement from seeing the likes of Chelsea perform well last season as we showed in the Premier League we are every bit as good a side as they are. So you just never know what can happen but my gut feeling is for our first journey back into the competition for a long long time we would be doing very well to just get out of our group"
Looking at the group then, as you have said there are quality sides and managers to be faced. Who do you see as favourites to win the group or progress?....
"Well I suppose history would show that Paris Saint Germain and Manchester City are the favourites and certainly on paper they have the strongest of the four squads in the group. But saying that I wouldn't be overlooking Cheyenne Hollis at AC Milan who is an extremely capable manager as he has shown over the years. He is good tactically and at getting the best out of his sides and he certainly won't be going into the competition in awe of anyone that's for sure. He's not one to lack confidence and has a real belief in himself and rightly so looking at his track record"
The Scot continued "In my opinion Nick Lovell at Manchester City is the best manager the game has ever seen. He didn't inherit a good side unlike plenty others, he's created a monster and reaped the rewards over a long period of time. That's before you even take into account what he's had to endure in his personal life which for me only adds to the magnitude of what he's achieved. There is a suggestion they might be slightly on the decline but I'm not so sure about that. Yeah they have some older players but Nick isn't stupid and he works the auction and the market well and I am sure he will replace some of the veterans as and when is needed. I love the recent signing of Onana and that midfield looks very special with him in alongside Bernardo Silva, Jude Bellingham and Rovella. Discount City at your peril I would say"
What about the current holders Paris Saint Germain?....
"To be honest I'm not really a fan I have to say. You cannot argue at the quality of squad they have assembled but as I say I'm just not a fan. Their manager....some of the stuff that has gone on in the past and probably still does....I don't know I've pretty much completely switched off from the social media side of the game as a result as I just found it tedious and really starting to wear me down. Just not for me. Excellent team though I'll give them that and probably the side who are most likely to go all the way and win it again"
Oh right ok. What about the competition as a whole then. What other sides can you see being right in the mix?
"I'm really looking forward to seeing how Real Madrid fare under their new manager. I like Freddie and wish him well but I know he's moved on a few of their quality older players such as Virgil Van Dijk, Raheem Sterling and Raphaël Varane and I hope that doesn't hurt them too much. I'm not expecting a Roma style collapse or anything like that but as I say it'll be worth keeping an eye on. Madrid have been a very strong and successful side for a while now and Fred has some big shoes to fill. There is an expectation at that club and I hope he is up to the task and delivers. Their city neighbours Atletico are worth a mention too. They defeated us in the final of the Dave Phillips Trophy and Simon Marsh has done a terrific job there, strengthening from season to season. It would not be a surprise to me in the slightest to see them going deep in the competition "
"Other than that I always think Manchester United are a top class side and not to be under estimated and for me Steve Outten is one of the very best managers out there. That is a cracking group they are in with Real Madrid, Arsenal and Bayern Munich. Arsenal are a very good side again with a top class manager in Darren Humphris and then you have Bayern who have a good young side and also a little bit of that unknown quantity about them with Ant Harris now at the helm. That said I would still fancy Real and Man Utd to progress though and to be right in the shake up when it comes to the trophy being handed out. One other side I'll throw in there, again with a bit of X factor about them under new management is Juventus. I think Tony Ayre is a very good manager and this could well be the chance for him to really show it. He's had success over the years at other clubs but arguably this is the best side he's been in charge of so without wanting to put pressure on the boy I can see them really becoming a force under his guidance"
Edwards concluded "I don't know it's all so difficult to predict really. You look at the likes of Spurs winning the Premier League last season and you can't really rule anything out can you? The usual suspects will be favourites but sometimes in this game you just have to expect the unexpected - which we hope will be the case again especially if we are to have any chance of going the distance"