Liverpool will face eight different clubs in the first phase of this season’s Champions League, with their route to the knockout stage now clear.
Arne Slot‘s side finished the first season of the new Champions League format as League Phase winners, but were knocked out at the first time of asking against eventual winners PSG.
It could cause a re-think from Liverpool’s head coach as to how he approaches the 36-team league, which sees every club play eight fixtures – four at home and four away – before the knockouts.
A random draw took place on Thursday via UEFA’s automated software, with Liverpool to face:
- Real Madrid (H)
- Inter Milan (A)
- Atletico Madrid (H)
- Frankfurt (A)
- PSV (H)
- Marseille (A)
- Qarabag (H)
- Galatasaray (A)
* That is not the order the games will be played in. Fixture dates will be confirmed no later than Saturday, August 30.
It makes for quite the draw for Liverpool, with Trent Alexander-Arnold set for a swift return to Anfield with Real Madrid.
The Reds will soon find out which match is played when – which could have an influential role on their league pursuits as they play away after five of their eight league phase games.
Champions League fixture dates
Matchday 1: September 16-18
Matchday 2: September 30-October 1
Matchday 3: October 21/22
Matchday 4: November 4/5
Matchday 5: November 25/26
Matchday 6: December 9/10
Matchday 7: January 20/21
Matchday 8: January 28
* All dates and kick-off times will be confirmed no later than Saturday, August 30.
A reminder of the competition format
The top eight teams from the league phase will go straight into the last 16, while those from ninth to 24th place will face a play-off against one of the other sides in February.
The clubs who finish 25th and below exit the competition after the first stage, with no team to drop into the Europa League.
The victors from the play-offs will then join the knockout stage with the top eight. The last 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals will be two-legged, as per usual, with the final taking place in Budapest on May 30, 2026 – with a new kick-off time of 5pm (UK).