Live updates: 2019-20 Champions League group stage draw

Follow our live updates from the draw for the 2019-20 Champions League group stage, which includes the presentation of UEFA's awards for 2018-19.

Group E: Liverpool, Napoli, Salzburg, Genk

  • Van Dijk wins UEFA Men's Player of the Year 2018-19
  • No.4 also named Champions League Defender of the Season
  • Alisson Becker receives CL Goalkeeper of the Season award

And that's all for our live, rolling coverage of the Champions League draw and UEFA awards ceremony in Monaco.

To recap, Liverpool will face Napoli, Salzburg and Genk in Group E.

It was a successful evening for the European champions accolades-wise, too, with Virgil van Dijk crowned UEFA Men's Player of the Year and Champions League Defender of the Season and Alisson Becker being named Champions League Goalkeeper of the Season.

Confirmed fixture schedule

Here's the running order of Liverpool's six Group E games...

Napoli v LFC - September 17
LFC v Salzburg - October 2
Genk v LFC - October 23
LFC v Genk - November 5 
LFC v Napoli - November 27
Salzburg v LFC - December 10

All kick-off times are 8pm UK time except Salzburg away, which is 5.55pm.

Watch again

How Group E came together to pit Liverpool against Napoli, Salzburg and Genk...

Exclusive Jürgen Klopp reaction

Immediately after Thursday's draw and those three awards for Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk, the boss sat down with Liverpoolfc.com in his office at Melwood to provide his reaction.

"It's not an easy group and not a group where we can hide behind anybody. We have to try everything to go through, but we are really looking forward to it like always," he said.

Click here to read our interview with Klopp in full.

Van Dijk wins top award

Yes!

Virgil van Dijk has been named the UEFA Men's Player of the Year for 2018-19. A brilliant achievement for the Liverpool defender.

The Dutchman saw off competition from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to take the honour.

Matchday hospitality on sale now

Matchday hospitality is now on sale for Liverpool's three Group E fixtures at Anfield - click here for more information.

We'll have exclusive reaction to that draw from Jürgen Klopp coming up on Liverpoolfc.com shortly.

Genk are the fourth team in Liverpool's group.

Group E

Liverpool
Napoli
Salzburg
Genk

The draw with Salzburg means a return to one of their former clubs for both Naby Keita and Sadio Mane.

Salzburg are the next opponent drawn with the Reds.

Group E

Liverpool
Napoli
Salzburg

Napoli go into Group E with Liverpool.

It's a repeat of last season's phase, with the Reds to face the Serie A side again.

And another award!

Virgil van Dijk is confirmed as the winner of the 2018-19 Champions League Defender of the Season!

"We all deserved [the trophy]," he said upon collecting the honour.

"This season it starts all over again. We want to compete and try to defend the cup; there are so many great teams but we're going to fight for it."

Liverpool have been placed in Group E.

First up...

... is the 2018-19 Champions League Goalkeeper of the Season award - and it's won by Alisson Becker!

The Liverpool stopper was in incredible form to help the club clinch the trophy in his first season at Anfield, including a vital last-minute save against Napoli in the group stage and numerous crucial interventions in the final.

Who will be crowned?

Van Dijk alongside his competition for the UEFA Men's Player of the Year for 2018-19...

Target: Istanbul

This season's Champions League final will be held at a stadium with an eternal place in Liverpool history: the Ataturk in Istanbul...

Representing

Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk arrive at the draw...

Training first

Liverpool's latest pre-Burnley training session coincides with the Champions League draw this evening, meaning a slight delay before the players will learn of their group-stage opponents.

The scene is set

90 minutes to go

Not long to wait now until the draw gets under way, with 5pm BST the scheduled start time.

More selfies...

This time Alisson Becker obliges.

The big man

Van Dijk is on the three-man shortlist for UEFA's 2018-19 Men's Player of the Year prize after an outstanding campaign for club and country.

The centre-back, who scooped the PFA Players' Player of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season prizes, was a formidable presence in the Reds defence en route to glory in Madrid.

Van Dijk was almost ever-present as Liverpool collected 97 Premier League points and also helped Netherlands reach the UEFA Nations League final.

But first...

Virgil van Dijk poses for selfies with football fans outside the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

The boys arrive in Monaco...

Here's Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker stepping off a helicopter in Monaco just moments ago.

Looking good, lads.

Super European champions

Liverpool have already played a European tie this season, of course, securing UEFA Super Cup success after a penalty shootout victory over Chelsea. Relive the story of that game below...

Familiar foes?

Liverpool are able to draw two of their opponents from last season's group stage again this year, with Serie A side Napoli in Pot 2 and Red Star Belgrade in Pot 4.

Could there be an immediate Anfield reunion for Simon Mignolet? The former Reds goalkeeper's new team, Club Brugge, booked their place in the group stage via the play-offs.

Klopp's take on the competition

The manager has spoken about the depth of quality throughout the four pots for today's draw.

"I don't think there was ever a stronger pot two. It is just crazy. They should all be in pot one, but there is not enough space there," Klopp told reporters.

"I don't think there was ever a stronger pot three. Then pot four you can get RB Leipzig - wow!"

Another Youth League adventure

Liverpool's U19s will learn their opponents for the UEFA Youth League today, too, with that competition replicating the draw for the Champions League group stage.

So Barry Lewtas' side will again face the same three teams as Jürgen Klopp's seniors as they aim to progress in Europe. Lewtas is set to be assisted by U23s boss Neil Critchley once more.

Match dates

We'll bring you confirmed dates and kick-off times for Liverpool's Champions League games shortly after the draw is concluded, but we do already know the weeks when the Reds will be in European action.

Matchday one: September 17/18
Matchday two: October 1/2
Matchday three: October 22/23
Matchday four: November 5/6
Matchday five: November 26/27
Matchday six: December 10/11

Six times

The animated story of how the Reds conquered Europe again...

Van Dijk v Messi v Ronaldo

Virgil van Dijk is also in the running for the UEFA Men's Player of the Year award for 2018-19, with the Liverpool No.4 up against Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the prize.

UEFA awards

There is significant Reds representation in UEFA's shortlists for the 2018-19 Champions League positional awards, with the winners to be announced during the group-stage draw...

Goalkeepers: Alisson Becker (Liverpool), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona)

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax, now Juventus), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong (Ajax, now Barcelona), Christian Eriksen (Tottenham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)

Forwards: Sadio Mane (Liverpool), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)

Every goal en route to glory

While we wait for the draw to begin later, why not enjoy every Reds goal on their journey to that unforgettable success in Madrid in June? We've got you covered in the compilation below...

Fabinho's feeling

After lifting the European Cup in his first season with the club, Fabinho is feeling confident about Liverpool's prospects for the 2019-20 edition.

Asked about today's draw, the midfielder told us: "The Champions League is a special competition and we're the reigning champions, so there's always going to be a lot of expectation about who we're going to come up against. We're relaxed about it.

"We're fully aware that when we return from this international break there will be a more intense fixture schedule with midweek games, but that's good - we like it.

"As we're the reigning champions, all the other teams are going to focus much more on us, they'll know more about our team.

"We're excited about this season's competition. We know how strong the team is and, as always, we have to work hard and with confidence."

Last season

Jürgen Klopp's side faced Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli and Red Star Belgrade in the group stage a year ago. But how much can you remember about those games? Take our tricky quiz to find out...

The draw

As reigning champions, Liverpool are in Pot 1 for today's draw and will be placed in a section with one team from each of the other three pots below - but they cannot face Tottenham Hotspur from Pot 2.

Welcome

Hello and a warm welcome to our live blog on the 2019-20 Champions League group-stage draw in Monaco, where holders Liverpool will find out their opponents for this season's competition.

Five Reds players are also in contention for UEFA's annual awards, to be presented during the ceremony - which gets under way at 5pm BST.

Stick with us for updates on all of the above right here throughout the day.