UCL draw: Alexander-Arnold set to return to Anfield | OneFootball

Trent Alexander-Arnold will make a swift return to Anfield after Liverpool were drawn to host Real Madrid in this season’s Champions League.

The right-back will face his old teammates months after his controversial move to the Bernabéu, which drew vocal disapproval from sections of the Liverpool support.

It was one of several high-profile reunions thrown up in a league phase draw that also pits Kevin De Bruyne, now with Napoli, against Manchester City. The Napoli manager, Antonio Conte, will also meet his former club Chelsea. Arsenal will prime themselves for the latest appearance of Harry Kane, a long-time nemesis while at Spurs, in Bayern Munich colours at the Emirates.

The now customary sprawling draw, which paired each of the 36 contenders with eight opponents, offered England’s six representatives a mixed bag. Liverpool will also host Real’s city neighbours, Atlético, as well as softer-looking tasks against PSV Eindhoven and the Azeri champions, Qarabag. They will travel to Inter, Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille and Galatasaray.

Manchester City will renew acquaintances once again with Real Madrid, who they have faced 10 times in the past five and a half years. Madrid most recently defeated them 6-3 on aggregate in the knockout playoff round in February and will host this season’s tie at the Bernabéu.

City will also visit newcomers Bodø/Glimt, Villarreal and Monaco; Pep Guardiola’s side will host Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Galatasaray along with Napoli.

Arsenal will hope to avenge their quarter-final defeat against Kane and Bayern of 2023-24. Atlético, Olympiakos and the Kazakh debutants Kairat Almaty will also visit north London; last season’s Premier League runners-up will travel to Inter, Club Brugge, Slavia Prague and Athletic Bilbao.

Chelsea face a relatively tough-looking path through the league phase. They will meet Barcelona, Benfica, Ajax and the Cypriot side Pafos at Stamford Bridge, playing away ties against Bayern, Atalanta, Napoli and Qarabag.

The theme of reunions persists for Tottenham, who will travel to Bodø/Glimt after defeating the Norwegians in the Europa League semi-finals in May. Spurs also face the reigning champions, Paris Saint-Germain, who edged them out on penalties in the Super Cup a fortnight ago, at the Parc des Princes.

Their assignments on the road include Eintracht Frankfurt, another opponent from 2024-25, and Monaco. Thomas Frank’s team host Dortmund, Villarreal, Slavia Prague and Copenhagen.