These will not be simple affairs.
Two legs and one result stand between Liverpool and Celtic before the Champions League group stages. The draw was made for the final round of the playoffs and both sides have tricky tasks ahead.
Celtic will face Astana of Kazakhstan, a side they are very familiar with. Last season, Brendan Rodgers’ side required a stoppage-time penalty from Moussa Dembele to claim a 3-2 win over the Kazahks.
As for Liverpool, they will come up against the German side from whom they purchased Roberto Firmino from.
Jurgen Klopp’s men will take on Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim, who are pretty damn tough to turn over on their own turf.
Hoffenheim didn't lose a single Bundesliga home game under Julian Nagelsmann in 2016/17.
DDWWWDWDDWWWWWWWWD
Tough trip for Liverpool. 👊 pic.twitter.com/oHbod9LXRF
— Squawka (@Squawka) August 4, 2017
The first leg for Liverpool will be on either 15 or 16 August, with the return leg to be played at Anfield on 22 or 23 August.
The pick of the other ties must be Napoli taking on Nice with old European dark-horses Steaua Bucharest up against Sporting Lisbon.
Champions route
Celtic v Astana
Qarabag v Copenhagen
Apoel Nicosia v Slavia Prague
Olympiakos v HNK Rijeka
Hapoel Beer Sheva v Maribor
League route
Hoffenheim v Liverpool
Istanbul Basaksehir v Sevilla
Young Boys v CSKA Moscow
Napoli v Nice
Sporting Lisbon v Steaua Bucharest
