Trent’s Return! – Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League Fixtures Confirmed | OneFootball

Liverpool learn Champions League opponents for 2025/26

Liverpool have discovered their UEFA Champions League fate for the 2025/26 season, as the draw in Monaco revealed the eight teams Arne Slot’s men will face in the league phase.

This is only the second year of UEFA’s new 36-team single-league format, which replaces the traditional group stage. Last season Liverpool excelled, topping the table with seven wins from eight games, before being edged out on penalties in the round of 16 by eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain. That disappointment remains a sore point, but optimism is high after a triumphant domestic campaign that saw Slot deliver the Premier League title in his first year at Anfield.

Familiar rivals for Liverpool in Europe

Among Liverpool’s opponents are two clubs they know only too well. Real Madrid will return to Anfield once more, having been beaten 2-0 on Merseyside last November. The rivalry has become one of the defining narratives of European football in recent times, with the sides meeting seven times since 2018, including two finals. For Liverpool, there is no bigger barometer of progress than how they fare against Los Blancos.

Atletico Madrid will also be making the trip to Anfield, ensuring another high-profile Spanish encounter. The Reds have hosted Diego Simeone’s side twice since 2020, and their tactical stubbornness always makes for an intense contest.

First-Time Encounters Bring Intrigue

There are also first-time meetings that add a fresh dimension. Qarabag, the Azerbaijani champions, will make their debut appearance at Anfield. This fixture marks Liverpool’s first ever clash with a club from Azerbaijan and provides a reminder of how the expanded format has opened the competition to new horizons.

Another notable game will be against Eintracht Frankfurt. The German side, Europa League winners in 2022, have not met Liverpool in competitive action since 1972. That encounter ended with a 2-0 aggregate win for the Merseysiders in the UEFA Cup, and the away trip to Frankfurt promises to be one of the more appealing journeys for travelling supporters.

Tough Away Schedule for Slot’s Champions

Liverpool’s road fixtures include a daunting set of assignments. Slot’s side will travel to last season’s runners-up Inter Milan, with the San Siro again providing a grand stage. The Reds have fond recent memories there, having won on their last three visits. Galatasaray in Istanbul is another trip brimming with atmosphere, while Marseille and Eintracht Frankfurt round off what is a demanding schedule outside England.

Slot’s Challenge in Europe

Liverpool supporters will feel confident after the way their team handled the domestic campaign, but the Champions League demands consistency across varied styles and settings. Slot has already shown he can handle pressure at the highest level, guiding Liverpool to the Premier League title in 2025, and his ability to balance expectation with pragmatism will again be tested.

With a blend of familiar foes and new challenges, Liverpool’s path through the UEFA Champions League league phase is set to be as compelling as ever. Supporters will be eager to see their team not just secure a top-eight finish, which guarantees passage to the last 16, but also demonstrate that they are once more genuine contenders for European supremacy.