Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net

Liverpool's draw card for the Champions League draw(Image: Valerio Pennicino - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Not for the first time this season, Liverpool have been waiting for their rivals to catch up.

But six weeks after they secured Champions League qualification, the Reds now have a much better idea of who they will have to overcome in the competition next term.

It was back on April 12 when Arne Slot's side, already runaway Premier League leaders en route to Liverpool's record-equalling 20th English title, were mathematically guaranteed a place in the top five and an immediate return to Europe's elite.

The Reds, of course, had finished top of the new-look league stage this season only to be handed a surprisingly difficult draw in the round of 16 where they lost on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain, who will face Inter Milan in the final on Saturday evening in Munich.

READ MORE:Trent Alexander-Arnold sends message to city of Liverpool after bus parade incidentREAD MORE:Darwin Nunez given Manchester United transfer encouragement as Liverpool doubts continue

Leading Premier League also-ran Arsenal secured the second Champions League berth earlier this month, leaving a shoot-out between five teams for the three remaining places on the final day from which Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle United all emerged.

England, which usually has four Champions League qualification places, was permitted an extra team due to the Premier League's excellent record in Europe this season with Spain the other country to gain such a privilege.

And it became six last midweek when Tottenham Hotspur ensured their presence by beating Manchester United in a dire Europa League final between two struggling teams.

As with last season, a total of 36 teams will make up the initial league stage.

Each will play eight games against different opposition, with four at home and four away.

Article continues below

Clubs from the same country cannot face each other, with the draw for the fixtures split into teams playing two opponents from each of the four pots, which are determined by UEFA coefficient - the record of each club in European competition over the last five years.

Seven of the 36 clubs will emerge from the qualifying rounds, which take place in July and August.

The remaining 29, though, have already been determined and are in the draw, which will take place on August 28.

And the nine teams in Pot 1 have also been confirmed, with Liverpool joined by English rivals Manchester City and Chelsea, Spanish duo Real Madrid and Barcelona, German teams Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, and this season's finalists PSG and Inter.

So, who else has qualified?

As well as the remaining Premier League clubs Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle - who at present are in pots 2, 3 and 4 respectively - Spain also has Atletico Madrid, Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao.

Five of the eight teams they faced in the league stage last year - AC Milan, Bologna, RB Leipzig, Girona and Lille - all failed to qualify this time around.

The final of next season's Champions League will take place in Budapest on May 30.


For more news relating to Arsenal, visit our sister site AFC Latest Live.