Liverpool ensured safe passage into the Champions League Round of 16 with a comfortable 6-0 win over Qarabağ at Anfield.
The Reds finished third in the league phase table, meaning they avoided the playoff round that would have added two additional games to an already congested February schedule.
Despite Arne Slot's side being inconsistent domestically, they have flourished in Europe, winning 6 of 8 matches, including impressive displays against Eintracht Frankfurt, Real Madrid, and Marseille.
Fellow Premier League sides Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, and Manchester City also made the top eight, while Newcastle United's draw against defending champions Paris Saint-Germain booked them a place in the playoff round of 32. It represents a healthy showing by English clubs in the competition's new format.
Findings from Gambling.com, specialists in sportsbooks and new online casinos to play, show Liverpool have 11/1 odds to go all the way and lift a seventh European Cup in Budapest come May.
While they have been spiky in the league, Champions League football suits their expansive style, and the Reds have shown they can score goals on the road as well as at Anfield. They will be an awkward team no one wants to face.
Slot's side will be seeded and face one of four teams that advance from the playoffs. The draw takes place once those ties are complete, but Liverpool already know their potential opponents.
In this article, we assess the four options and what each matchup would mean for the Reds.
Juventus
The Italian powerhouse remains a giant of European football, but its fans have been unimpressed by how Serie A has opened up, becoming one of the continent's most competitive divisions.
Juventus came 13th in the league phase, a disappointing return for a club with their pedigree and resources.
They were frustrating to watch, dropping avoidable points to the likes of Monaco and Sporting while struggling in front of goal with main striker Dušan Vlahović out injured.
Luciano Spalletti has tried to implement a more possession-based approach, but the results have not matched the ambition. Juventus look vulnerable, and Liverpool would fancy their chances of progressing comfortably.
Liverpool have not met the Old Lady in Europe since the 2005 run to Istanbul, and we all know how that ended. The emotional weight of that history would add intrigue to the tie, though the reality is that this Juventus side lacks the quality of years gone by.
Galatasaray
The Turkish side is one of the only teams to beat Liverpool in Europe under Slot, a result that still stings on Merseyside. They are dangerous at home with a hostile atmosphere that has unsettled visiting sides for decades. The fans are often penned behind after matches due to safety concerns, a reminder of how intense these occasions can become.
Still, that defeat will be fuel in the fire for the Reds, who will want revenge if they draw Galatasaray in the next round. Liverpool rarely loses twice to the same opponent in a single season, and Slot will use that earlier result as motivation to ensure his players approach the tie with the necessary intensity.
Striker Victor Osimhen is dangerous. The Nigerian scored the only goal back in September and was linked with Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal before leaving Napoli for Turkey. They also have European experience with İlkay Gündoğan and Mario Lemina.
Atlético Madrid
Atlético's season has been overshadowed by doubts surrounding manager Diego Simeone. El Cholo is a legend of European football and would love to sign off with a trophy after two runs to the final in 2014 and 2016 were both thwarted by Real Madrid. Whether he stays beyond this season remains unclear, but the Champions League represents his best chance of silverware.
The Spaniards have already visited Anfield this season, beaten 3-2, though they did come back from two goals down to give the crowd a brief scare. Marcos Llorente in particular seems to play his best football on Merseyside, and his energy in midfield caused Liverpool problems during that match. If the sides meet again, Slot will need a plan to neutralise his influence.
Club Brugge
The wildcard option. Brugge evokes memories of the 1978 European Cup final, where Kenny Dalglish's goal was enough to beat the Belgians at Wembley. Almost 50 years on, the Reds have won four more European Cups, while Brugge have been crowned Belgian league champions 19 times, second only to major rivals Anderlecht.
They sneaked into 19th place ahead of Galatasaray with a dominant 3-0 win over Marseille and also drew 3-3 with Barcelona, showing they can compete with the big teams when conditions suit them. Brugge play attractive football under their current management, prioritising possession and quick transitions that could trouble Liverpool if they switch off.
This would be the most favourable draw on paper, but European football has a habit of punishing complacency. Brugge would arrive at Anfield with nothing to lose and everything to gain, a dangerous mentality that has produced upsets before. Liverpool would need to take them seriously from the first whistle.
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Liverpool's seeding guarantees they avoid the playoff round, but it does not guarantee an easy path to the quarter-finals. Juventus brings history and pedigree, Galatasaray offers revenge and hostility, Atlético provides tactical intrigue, and Brugge represents the unknown.
Whichever opponent emerges from the playoffs, Liverpool will fancy their chances. Slot has shown he can navigate knockout football, and his squad has the quality to compete with anyone on their day. The challenge is maintaining consistency and avoiding the kind of defensive lapses that have cost them domestically.
Budapest feels a long way off, but Liverpool has the tools to go deep in this competition. Their next opponent will reveal whether this is the year they add a seventh European Cup to their trophy cabinet.
