Barcelona’s Lionel Messi different|and several other} other Champions League stars have arrived in principalityprior to Thursday evening’s cluster stage draw and awards ceremony.
The 32-year-old mercurial forward was snapped taking photos with fans prior to the glitzy ceremony – and is ready to travel head-to-head with port stalwart Publius Vergilius Maro van Dijk to be named UEFA wash roomPlayer of the Year.
Frenkie DE Jong and Alisson Becker were additionally gift to find their several clubs’ fates prior to the new European campaign.
De Jong, a £65million Barcelona capture from last year’s semi-finalists mythical being, was additionally obtainableto represent this Spanish champions.
Both Alisson and van Dijk command a vital role within the Reds’ triumph within the competition last season – and were named on UEFA’s range for awards to be proclaimed before the ceremony begins.
Alisson can battle it out with Victor-Marie Hugo Lloris and Marc-Andre ter Stegen to be topped the most effectivegoalkeeper from the 2018/19 European campaign.
Van Dijk has Matthijs DE Ligt and fellow port man Trent Alexander-Arnold for company within the best defender class.
The Dutch international also will harbour hopes of lifting the UEFA wash room Player of the Year award – thoughcompetition is expose by superstars Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Top flight sides Manchester town, Chelsea and Spurs area unit concerned within the draw aboard last season’s European champions.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admitted he expects a tightly-contested competition another time.
He said: ‘I don’t assume there has ever been a stronger Pot two. it’s simply crazy! I don’t assume there was ever a stronger Pot three, either. and so Pot four you’ll be able to get Leipzig – wow! The teams are unimaginable.’
Last season the Reds were drawn against Paris Saint-Germain, Naples and Red Star Belgrade, and progressed in second place despite losing 3 away games within the cluster.