NYON – Liverpool will have the chance to avenge their Champions League 2022 final defeat by Real Madrid after they were drawn on Monday to face the holders again in the last 16, but former Reds captain and manager Graeme Souness was not optimistic.

He told talkSPORT: “Real seem to be able to, even when they’re not doing well domestically, turn up in those games – they’ve just got a way of winning.

“It all depends on which Liverpool turn up. When I saw Liverpool in the first half (against Tottenham) yesterday, that’s as good as it gets. And you’d say they’d be happy to play anyone in this competition if that was their level.

“In the second half, we played second fiddle to a Tottenham team who upped their aggression.”

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was more optimistic, saying: “Real’s European record is the best around... But we also know that ours is not too bad. On top of this, we know that we have Anfield and everyone knows what this means.”

The draw came in the wake of a report by The Athletic on Monday that their Fenway Sports Group owners have put the club “up for sale” and are “inviting” offers with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to assist in the process.

FSG has owned Liverpool since October 2010 and, under their stewardship, the Reds won their first English top-flight title in 30 years as well as the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.

FSG said in a statement: “FSG has said before that, under the right terms and conditions, we would consider new shareholders if it was in the best interests of Liverpool.”

In the other Champions League glamour tie, Paris Saint-Germain were drawn against Bayern Munich in a repeat of the 2020 final which was won by the German club.

PSG sporting adviser Luis Campos said: “It’s a good time to play against Bayern, we’re feeling very confident with the season we’re having.”

Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann bemoaned his side’s luck. He said: “We’ve already had tough opponents in the group, finished first in the table and still weren’t rewarded.”

Manchester City will play Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig and 2021 winners Chelsea also drew German rivals in Borussia Dortmund.

After topping their group, thanks to a last-gasp winner away to Marseille last Wednesday, Tottenham were given a tough draw against Italian champions AC Milan.

The first legs of all last-16 ties will be played in February, with the return matches in March.

Champions League last-16 ties:

RB Leipzig (GER) v Manchester City (ENG)
Club Brugge (BEL) v Benfica (POR)
Liverpool (ENG) v Real Madrid (ESP)
AC Milan (ITA) v Tottenham Hotspur (ENG)
Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) v Napoli (ITA)
Borussia Dortmund (GER) v Chelsea (ENG)
Inter Milan (ITA) v Porto (POR)
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) v Bayern Munich (GER)

• First legs to be played on Feb 14/15/21/22; second legs on March 7/8/14/15.

Over in the Europa League, Barcelona and Manchester United will meet in the play-offs for a place in last 16. The Spanish side met the 2017 Europa League winners in the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals, winning on both occasions.

“The draw has given us the most difficult rivals again... the worst that we could wish for,” Barca coach Xavi Hernandez said.

United were second in their Europa League group behind another Spanish team – Real Sociedad – and meet a Barca side who missed out on the Champions League last 16 after finishing behind Bayern and Inter Milan.

The first leg will be played on Feb 16 and the return leg on Feb 23.

REUTERS, AFP

Europa League knockout round play-offs:

Barcelona (ESP) v Manchester United (ENG)
Juventus (ITA) v Nantes (FRA)
Sporting (POR) v Midtjylland (DEN)
Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) v Rennes (FRA)
Ajax (NED) v Union Berlin (GER)
Bayer Leverkusen (GER) v Monaco (FRA)
Sevilla (ESP) v PSV Eindhoven (NED)
Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) v Roma (ITA)

• First legs to be played on Feb 16, second legs on Feb 23.