Champions League draw in full as Liverpool discovers opponents for new format

Liverpool has learned its opponents for the 2024-25 Champions League group stage as the new 'league phase' format is introduced.

The Reds had to settle for Europa League football last term but Jurgen Klopp secured third place and a return to Europe's premier competition for new boss Arne Slot.

UEFA has made some big changes to the Champions League for this season with the number of teams increasing from 32 to 26. And instead of being split into groups, those teams will now form one league. There is also an increase in matches at this stage too, with all teams playing eight fixtures.

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Each team will play two teams from each pot, with Liverpool among the top seeds in Pot 1. The fixture dates for the Champions League matches are due to be announced later this week.

Liverpool will get the chance for revenge on Real Madrid after losing two Champions League finals to the La Liga giants in recent years. The two sides will face off at Anfield , while Liverpool will also take on RB Leipzig in Germany.

There is also a reunion with Xabi Alonso in store after being drawn alongside Bayer Leverkusen. The Spaniard was linked with the Liverpool job in the summer but opted to remain in Germany.

Liverpool's fixtures also include trips to Milan, Girona and PSV Eindhoven, while Lille and Bologna will visit Anfield.

Champions League draw (selected teams)

• Liverpool - Real Madrid (H), Leipzig (A), Leverkusen (H), Milan (A), Lille (H), PSV (A), Bologna (H), Girona (A)

• Manchester City - Inter Milan, PSG, Club Brugge, Juventus, Feyenoord, Sporting CP, Sparta Prague, Slovan Bratislava
  
• Arsenal - PSG, Inter Milan, Shakhtar Donetsk, Atalanta, Dinamo Zagreb, Sporting CP, Monaco, Girona
• Real Madrid - Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool, AC Milan, Atalanta, Salzburg, Lille, Stuttgart, Brest
• Bayern Munich - PSG, Barcelona, Benfica, Shakhtar, Dinamo Zagreb, Feyenoord, Slovan Bratislava, Aston Villa
• Barcelona - Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta, Benfica, Young Boys, Red Star Belgrade, Brest, Monaco
• Aston Villa - Bayern Munich, Leipzig, Juventus, Celtic, Club Brugge, Young Boys, Monaco, Bologna
• Celtic - Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund, Club Brugge, Atalanta, Young Boys, Dinamo Zagreb, Slovan Bratislava, Aston Villa.