Chelsea, Liverpool handed tricky paths in UEFA Champions League's new league phase

Matchday 1 is just weeks away, and as part of the competition's new format, each team will face two opponents from each of the four pots, based on UEFA coefficient rankings, playing one home and one away. Teams from the same league cannot meet at this stage, nor face more than two opponents from any single country.

Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea landed in pot one, Arsenal in pot two, Tottenham in pot three, and Newcastle in pot four. After the league phase, the top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16, while those ranked 9th to 24th enter two-legged playoffs to secure the remaining knockout spots. Fixture dates will be confirmed soon, with the group phase schedule due Saturday.

Here's how the Premier League clubs fared. Chelsea and Newcastle were handed some of the toughest fixtures, while Tottenham and Arsenal received more favourable paths.

Chelsea will face a demanding schedule with games against Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Napoli, Atalanta, Benfica and Ajax. They also meet debutants Pafos and travel to Qarabag.

Newcastle also face a difficult task, taking on Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayer Leverkusen and Marseille, as well as Benfica, PSV, Athletic Club and Union SG.

Manchester City, the reigning champions, will meet Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Villarreal, Napoli, Bodo/Glimt, Galatasaray and Monaco. Pep Guardiola's side are tipped as favourites to top the new league phase.

Liverpool were drawn against Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt, along with PSV, Marseille, Qarabag and Galatasaray.

Arsenal will face Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid, plus Club Brugge, Olympiacos, Slavia Prague, Kairat Almaty and Athletic Club.

Tottenham appear to have the most favourable draw, with Borussia Dortmund, PSG, Villarreal and Frankfurt joined by Slavia Prague, Bodo/Glimt, Copenhagen and Monaco.

The new Champions League format sees all teams play eight matches in the league phase. The top eight sides progress directly to the round of 16, while clubs ranked 9th to 24th will compete in playoffs. Fixture dates will be confirmed in the coming days.

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