Home » ARTICLES » Klopp could return to Dortmund as Liverpool await Champions League venue change

Klopp could return to Dortmund as Liverpool await Champions League venue change

Photo of author

By Aniket Rai

Liverpool could play their away match against FC Midtjylland at the stadium of Borussia Dortmund

A report by Liverpool Echo claims that the venue of Liverpool’s penultimate group stage encounter against FC Midtjylland can be shifted away from Denmark to the stadium of Borussia Dortmund.

Liverpool were initially scheduled to play their last UEFA Champions League group stage match this season in Denmark, as the Reds face FC Midtjylland on December 9. However, the venue for the match may have to be changed by UEFA.

The travel restrictions placed on travelling by the United Kingdom government due to the coronavirus pandemic may not permit the Merseysiders to fly out to the MCH Arena in Herning, Denmark in the first week of December. (h/t Liverpool Echo)

Midtjylland's Brazilian defender Paulinho fouls Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (R) for a penalty during the UEFA Champions league Group D football match between Liverpool and Midtjylland at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on October 27, 2020. (Photo by Michael Regan / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MICHAEL REGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The Reds beat Midtjylland 2-0 at Anfield in the group stages earlier this season. (GETTY Images)

UEFA is aware of the situation and will reach its final decision after conversing with both clubs. There are a number of venues that can substitute for the MCH Arena but Borussia Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion has emerged as the most likely candidate. (h/t Liverpool Echo)

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp famously spent 7 years as the manager of Borussia Dortmund from 2008 to 2015, winning the Bundesliga twice and guiding them to the 2013 UEFA Champions League final.

Liverpool sit on top of Group D of the UEFA Champions League despite a 2-0 loss to Atalanta at home on Wednesday. If the Reds win against Ajax at Anfield on 1st December, they will secure qualification from the group. However, a loss could see their game against Midtjylland become a must-win encounter.

DORTMUND, GERMANY - MAY 05: Head coach Juergen Klopp of Dortmund lifts the trophy after the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and SC Freiburg at Signal Iduna Park on May 5, 2012 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp won the Bundesliga twice with Borussia Dortmund in his 7 years at the club. (GETTY Images)

The last time we played at the Westfalenstadion, Divock Origi scored our only game of the match which ended as a 1-1 draw against Dortmund in the 2015/16 UEFA Europa League quarter-finals. The Reds famously came back from two goals down to win 4-3 in the reverse fixture at Anfield and progress.

The fanbases of both Liverpool and Dortmund share a warm relationship; their synchronized rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone at Anfield in April 2016 before the second leg of the UEFA Europa League quarter-final won the FIFA Fan Award.