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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
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


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