Latest UEFA Rankings Show There's A Flaw With The System

Winning the Champions League last season hasn't put Liverpool top of UEFA's rankings, in fact it's left them further behind Barcelona, despite beating the La Liga champions in the semi-final.

The Champions League Group Stage starts again on Tuesday as Europe's elite start their journey that they hope will end in Istanbul in May.

Liverpool start as holders, after beating Spurs in last season's final, but the Reds don't start top of UEFA rankings and Barcelona's performance last season even saw them earn more points than the eventual winners.

Real Madrid's three wins in-a-row leaves them top even though their run was ended by Ajax in the quarter finals.

UEFA's current coefficient rankings. Image: UEFA.com

The coefficient is based on the last five years of European competitions and that means that Liverpool's no show in the 2016/17 season, after finishing eighth in the Premier League this season, has hindered them.

Whilst that makes sense the fact that Barcelona earned 30 points to Liverpool's 29 and Spurs, who are in 12th on the list, only got 26 points will have people scratching their heads.

It's down to the fact that each win in the Group Stages earns two points and a point for a draw and Barca's results in the groups were better than the two English sides, that alone suggests the ranking system could do with a change.

This season's final will take place in Istanbul and of course the last time that happened it was the Reds' who walked away victorious in one of the best finals in the competitions history.

Liverpool found themselves 3-0 down at half time against a famous AC Milan side that includes legends of the game like Paolo Maldini, Clarence Seedorf, Kaka and Andrea Pirlo.

Helped by a rousing performance by captain Steven Gerrard the English side rallied in the second half to level things up at 3-3 before eventually winning on penalties.

Liverpool's famous night in Istanbul. Image: PA Images

Jurgen Klopp's side go into this season's race to Istanbul as third favourites to lift the title, behind league rivals Manchester City and last season's semi-final opponents Barcelona.

They face Napoli away in their opening fixture in Group B before taking on Red Bull Salzburg and Genk in their next games.

Can Liverpool win back-to-back European titles?

Topics: Manchester City, Liverpool, Football News, Europa League, UEFA, Champions League, Real Madrid

Ryan Sidle

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