AMSTERDAM--The draw for the Champions League group stage took place on Thursday with Ajax Amsterdam being paired with Liverpool, Napoli and Rangers FC.
Ajax were in pot one for the draw and they were the first team picked out to go into group A. They were joined by Premier League giants Liverpool, who have Dutch top defender Virgil van Dijk in their squad.
Liverpool finished runners-up in the Champions League last season, but are yet to win in the Premier League during this campaign.
Italian Serie-A side Napoli was the second side pulled out of the hat for Ajax, who were followed by Scottish side Rangers, who reached the group stage after defeating PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday evening. Dutchman Giovanni van Bronckhorst coaches the Scottish side.
The Champions League group stages start on Tuesday, September 6.
Ajax coach Alfred Schreuder said he was looking forward to the upcoming matches against Liverpool, Napoli and Rangers FC.
“I think Liverpool is the favourite in this group. We all know how strong they are,” Schreuder told Dutch public broadcaster NOS.
The Scots will also be tough to beat, according to Schreuder. “They have shown against PSV that they have a good team with a good coach.”
Napoli is currently at the top of the Serie A. “Last season, Napoli did not end third [in the Serie A – Ed.] for nothing. They have lost some players, but they started [the new season] with six points from two matches and
nine goals, that’s saying something,” the Ajax coach said.
