The Champions League draw has now taken place. On Thursday evening, all 36 clubs, including Liverpool of course, discovered who they will be facing in this season's league phase.
Liverpool's Champions League opponents
Home
Pot 1: Atlético Madrid
Pot 2: FC Porto
Pot 3: Villarreal
Pot 4: RC Lens
Away
Pot 1: Internazionale Milano
Pot 2: Club Brugge
Pot 3: Fenerbahçe
Pot 4: LASK
Liverpool's eight opponents 🔴#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/y9xsIzZR0k
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 27, 2026
Looking at the draw, Liverpool could hardly have asked for an easier fixture list. In pot 1, Inter Milan and Atlético Madrid are, pretty inarguably, the two easiest teams they could have drawn, avoiding Bayern Munich, PSG, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Similarly, Club Brugge and FC Porto are among the weaker teams from pot 2 while, to a lesser extent, the same is true of pot 3 opponents Villarreal and Fenerbahçe. Ligue 1 runners-up Lens could be considered the strongest team from pot 4, albeit that match is at Anfield, while the Reds easily beat debutants LASK at Raiffeisen Arena three years ago, hoping for a similar outcome. Thus, having finished top an third in the league phase to date, we're forecasting something similar for the Reds.
However, head coach Andoni Iraola was always going to be a lot more diplomatic. This is was the manager said when reacting to the draw:
"It's an an interesting and difficult draw but we understood in advance that however the draw went we would be facing strong opposition, and that is exactly how it has worked out. This is the strength of the Champions League and why competing in it is such a big test. Each of these games will present a difficult challenge in their own way, so we will have to prepare for them as best as possible and give our very best on the pitch."Andoni Iraola
The boss added that "the Champions League is a challenge that we are definitely looking forward to", adding "it will be an honour for me and my staff to work with the team in this tournament". So, he is not taking anything for granted.
Iraola acknowledges the extra complication that balancing both Premier League and Champions League commitments will bring. Only once before has the Spaniard been in charge of a team in UEFA competition. This was when he was manager of AEK Laranca in 2018, leading the Yellow Greens through three rounds of qualifying, before being eliminated in the Europa League group stages.
At none of his subsequent stops, in charge of Mirandés, Rayo Vallecano and most-recently Bournemouth, has Iraola had to juggle both a domestic and continental campaign. Given the high pressing, high energy style Iraola is seeking to implement, this might prove to be a major challenge.
The identity of Liverpool's matchday five opponents are worth keeping a particular eye on. That's because, that game will come in between a clash with Manchester United and then a Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium against Everton, so that could be a very tough week.
UEFA have confirmed that the full fixture list, including dates and kick off times, will be published on Saturday morning. Based on last year, this will be at around 11am (BST), meaning there will be a fair few at Anfield, ahead of the clash with Nottingham Forest, attempting to book flights and hotels.
Champions League 2026/27 league phase fixture dates
- Matchday 1: 8-10 September.
- Matchday 2: 13 & 14 October.
- Matchday 3: 20 & 21 October.
- Matchday 4: 3 & 4 November.
- Matchday 5: 24 & 25 November.
- Matchday 6: 8 & 9 December.
- Matchday 7: 19 & 20 January.
- Matchday 8: Wednesday 27 January.
Add us as a preferred source on Google