Fabinho is looking forward to discovering Liverpool’s Champions League group stage opponents later on Thursday but is not too concerned who they face.

The Reds will begin the competition with a target on their backs as the defending champions and are 7.50 to mount a successful defence. Manchester City are the 4.50 favourites ahead of Barcelona at 6.00, while Real Madrid can be backed at 9.50.

Three of those big-hitters will not play each other in the group stage as they are in Pot 1, but Los Blancos are in Pot 2 after their round of 16 exit to Ajax in 2018-2019.

The Champions League draw is always an exciting part of the footballing calendar for those involved but Brazil ace Fabinho has played down the significance of which teams they might be grouped with.

“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,” he told LiverpoolFC.com.

“We’re relaxed about it.” Having made the perfect start to the Premier League campaign with three straight wins, the Merseysiders travel to Turf Moor to face Sean Dyche’s Burnley on Saturday.

They are 1.36 to win, with the Clarets on offer at 9.50 before European domestic football takes a two-week break for international competitions.

Things will get tougher when they return to action as Europe kicks in but Fabinho is relishing the challenge. “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,” he added.