It might not be the defence of the Premier League title that Liverpool fans would have hoped for this season, but they are still in with a chance of silverware in the FA Cup and Champions League.
Arne Slot’s side have struggled for consistency throughout the first half of the season but still find themselves in fourth place in the Premier League, Third Round of the FA Cup and ninth place in the Champions League table. It is not a foregone conclusion that they will qualify for the knock-out stages of the competition, but their remaining two matches in the group come against Marseille (away) and Qarabag (home). The top eight qualify automatically for the knockout stages, so Liverpool will want to ensure they break into that section, avoiding a two-legged play-off against one of the other sides placed between 9th and 24th in the final table.
Liverpool’s Odds to Win the Champions League
At the time of writing, Liverpool’s odds of winning the 2026 Champions League are 10/1. The bookies make them sixth favourites to lift the trophy for the seventh time in their history. Arsenal are the current favourites to win the Champions League this season, ahead of Bayern Munich, Manchester City, PSG and Barcelona.
We spoke to football betting site thatsagoal.com about Liverpool’s chances, and they said:
“It would be no surprise to anyone if Liverpool went deep into the competition, but there are some quality teams around Europe this year, and Arne Slot’s side are likely to fall short. Liverpool were unlucky to face PSG early in the competition last season, and this time around, they will need better luck in avoiding the likes of Bayern Munich, PSG and Barcelona. You would probably fancy them against the Premier League teams more than one of the European giants and there is every chance they’ll meet Arsenal or PSG”
“You can never write Liverpool off, especially with the Anfield atmosphere in this competition, but the team’s inconsistency will likely see them fall short before the final.”
Champions League 2025/26 – The Main Contenders
Arsenal top the Premier League and Champions League following the winter break, and look set to finish top. Bayern Munich are having a near faultless campaign domestically and in Europe but it remains to be seen how strong they will be defensively against real top-class opposition. Their sole defeat in the competition came at The Emirates against Arsenal, who have won six from six.
Manchester City and holders PSG are level on 13 points from their six matches, and both sides have suffered some surprise results over the course of the season. Real Madrid have just parted company with manager Xavi Alonso after their Super Cup defeat to Barcelona, and they are level on points with Liverpool in the Champions League group. You can never write off the 15-time winners of the competition, though, and at odds of 12/1 to win the tournament, it wouldn’t be the biggest surprise if Real Madrid’s new manager took them all the way again.
The likes of Atalanta, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid will fall short in the competition, so it falls to the teams with Champions League pedigree to battle for the coveted prize. Arsenal have never won the competition before and are still pushing for trophies on four fronts, so it will be a big ask for Mikel Arteta’s side to pick up their first Champions League trophy, while looking to secure a first Premier League win in 22 years.
Liverpool can never be written off, and if Florian Wirtz can continue to show the form he has shown in the last few weeks, as well as Mo Salah returning from AFCON for one last hurrah as a Liverpool legend before potentially moving on in the summer, it would be a fitting end to a difficult season for Arne Slot and his players.
