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Joe Allen relishing Liverpool's return to Champions League

Joe Allen expresses his excitement ahead of this afternoon's Champions League draw as Liverpool return to the fold after a five-year absence.

Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen has expressed his excitement ahead of this afternoon's Champions League group stage draw in Monaco.

The Reds are in the hat for the draw for the first time in five years after finishing as runners-up to Manchester City in the Premier League last season.

Due to their UEFA rankings, the Reds could potentially face reigning champions Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona or Atletico Madrid, as well as Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund or Juventus.

"I can't wait for the draw to get underway and see who we're up against," Allen told the club's official website. "I've heard a lot about the Champions League nights at Anfield and away. I can't wait to be a part of it.

"There is a part of me, of course, that wants to come up against the best teams and the best players. You have to have the confidence that you can.

"But, at the same time, an 'easier' group would do quite nicely. Mind you, there's no such thing as an easy group in the Champions League."

Liverpool have won five European Cups, the most recent being in 2005.

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Joe Allen of Liverpool in action during the Capital One Cup Fourth Round match between Liverpool and Swansea City at Anfield on October 31, 2012
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
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2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


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