Liverpool will host reigning champions Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen, managed by former player Xabi Alonso, in the new league phase format of the UEFA Champions League as they aim for their seventh European Cup under new manager Arne Slot.
On Thursday, UEFA held a draw ceremony in Monaco for the revamped Champions League group stage, which now features an expanded 36 teams organized in a single league table. Each club will compete in eight matches—two more than in previous editions—before the knockout rounds commence, with the final set of matches scheduled for January 29.
In this new structure, each team will face eight different opponents, split evenly between home and away games, with two teams drawn from each of the four seeded pots.
A key matchup for Liverpool will be against Madrid, along with the opportunity to reconnect with Alonso, who was previously considered a candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp but opted to remain at Leverkusen.
Madrid has triumphed over Liverpool in the Champions League finals of both 2021-22 and 2017-18.
In addition to Madrid, Liverpool will also compete against RB Leipzig (away), AC Milan (away), Lille (home), PSV Eindhoven (away), Bologna (home), and Girona (away) in this draw.
The top eight teams in the league will automatically advance to the round of 16. Teams ranked from ninth to 24th will enter a knockout play-off stage, while the lowest 12 will be eliminated.
Liverpool last secured the Champions League title in 2019, defeating Tottenham in the final, and this will be their first European campaign under Slot, who has won both of his initial matches in charge.