Champions League draw: Liverpool and Tottenham in…

Champions League draw: Liverpool and Tottenham in tough groups while Manchester United set for Cristiano Ronaldo return

The four Premier League clubs involved in the group stage of this season’s Champions League learned their European fate on Thursday afternoon, with last year’s finalists Liverpool handed a particularly tough draw.

Jurgen Klopp’s side knew they were in a precarious position in pot three and they find themselves in arguably the toughest of the eight groups.

They will take on French champions Paris Saint-Germain, as well as Carlo Ancelotti’s Napoli and Red Star Belgrade, a side well known for their intimidating home atmosphere.

In contrast Manchester City – currently the bookmakers’ favourite to win the tournament – were handed a dream draw.

Pep Guardiola’s team will play Shakhtar Donetsk for the second successive season, as well as Lyon and Hoffenheim, in a group that shouldn’t pose too much difficulty.

Manchester United were meanwhile handed a slightly tougher draw – which will include a reunion with former star Cristiano Ronaldo.

Jose Mourinho’s side were drawn in Group H alongside Ronaldo’s new club Juventus. Valencia are a potential banana skin, while Young Boys of Switzerland complete the group.

Tottenham Hotspur will take on Barcelona in a mouth-watering encounter, in a challenging group that also includes Serie A giants Inter Milan and Eredivisie champions PSV.

Manchester City are favourites for the trophy (Getty)

Spurs famously beat Inter 3-1 at White Hart Lane in 2010, and will likely have to get the better of the Italian side over two matches if they want to reach the knockout stages for a second successive year.

The first Champions League group stage games take place on 18 and 19 September, with clubs playing the last of their six matches on 11 or 12 December.

The knockout rounds begin in February, with the tournament concluding with the final at Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano on 1 June, 2019.