Champions League draw: Man United, City, Chelsea and Spurs to find out group stage fate

/COURTESY

• Arsenal won't be in the competition this year
• Real Madrid will be looking to defend their crown

This season will see the return of Chelsea and Manchester United to the Champions League.

The two clubs will join Spurs and Manchester City as an English club vies to win Europe's major competition for the first time in five years.

Liverpool also have the chance to compete in the tournament, but will need to overcome German giants Hoffenheim first.

The Reds won the first leg 2-1 on Tuesday, with the return fixture taking place next week.

When does the draw take place?

Thursday 24 August. The ceremony is scheduled to start at 4pm (local time) in Monaco.

How it will work

Teams will be split into four pots. Pot 1 will consist of last season's Champions League winners (Real Madrid) and the league champions from the top seven countries outside La Liga.

Should next week's favourites progress, Liverpool would end up in Pot 3.

Chelsea are immediately in Pot 1, the Manchester clubs are in Pot 2, Spurs would go into Pot 3 and Celtic would find themselves in Pot 4.

Teams from the same country cannot be drawn together.

Group

September 12, 13, 26 and 27

October 17, 18 and 31

November 1, 21 and 22

December 5 and 6

Round of 16

February 13, 14, 20 and 21

March 6, 7, 13 and 14 (second leg)

Quarter-final

April 3 and 4

April 10 and 11 (second leg)

Semi-final

April 24 and 25

May 1 and 2(second leg)

Final

May 26

Other draws

Round of 16

December 11

Quarter-final

March 16, 2018

Semi-final

April 13, 2018