talksport.com

Why Liverpool cannot play European powerhouse in Champions League due to new UEFA rule

Liverpool can still be drawn away at the Bernabeu but will not be able to host Real Madrid at Anfield in the Champions League due to new UEFA rules.

The European giants have visited Merseyside during the continental competition for the past two campaigns running.

Mac Allister scoring against Real Madrid3

Liverpool have used Anfield as a fortress against Real Madrid in previous campaigns

The Reds have been successful both times, withAlexis Mac AllisterandCody Gakposealing a 2-0 victory in the 2024-25 season and the Argentine scoring the only goal of the meeting in the following encounter.

However, UEFA has introduced a regulation preventing the exact same fixture from being repeated at the same venue for three consecutive campaigns.

Despite this restriction, Los Blancos could still play Andoni Iraola's men in the league phase in Madrid.

The rules state: "Uefa administration may determine alternative conditions for the draw in accordance with the principles set by the Club Competitions Committee,

"And may adapt any of the conditions of the draw to avoid deadlock situations and/or take into account any relevant constraints in light of decisions taken by the UEFA Executive Committee.

"This means that if any teams that already played against each other in the league phase of the Uefa Champions League in the 2024/25 season are again drawn against each other, with the same home team, in the league phase of the Uefa Champions League in this 2025/26 season,

"Those teams will not be able to be drawn against each other with the same home team in the 2026/27 season."

Liverpool last visited the Bernabeu in March 2023, when a place in the quarter-finals was up for grabs.

Liverpool open surprise talks for new Premier League winger after Minteh deal breaks downPolice launch search for ex-Premier League star after he was reported missingWhy Julian Alvarez is missing from Atletico Madrid training amid Arsenal transfer rumoursCharlton chief drops line-up admission before Tottenham trip in Carabao Cup

Karim Benzema netted the only goal in a1-0 winfor the Spanish giants.

Arsenal face similar restrictions

Arsenalwill also not be drawn away to Inter Milan in the league phase of the competition tomorrow.

Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino of Arsenal appear dejected after they receive their runners up medals following defeat in the UEFA Champions League Final 2026 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal3

The fixture is still allowed to play at the Emirates

The Gunners travelled to the San Siro to face the Serie A champions in both 2024/25 and 2025/26.

Mikel Arteta's side secured a impressive 3-1 victory in Milan last term thanks to strikes from Gabriel Jesus and Viktor Gyökeres, whereas the Italian outfit won 1-0 on home turf the previous year.

The draw for this season’s Champions League league phasewill be made on Thursday, August 27at a ceremony in Monaco.

The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase draw starts at 5pm BST.

The draw will arrange 36 teams to play eight match, as they face two teams from pots one, two, three and four.

Half of the matches will be at home, the other half away.

Champions League trophy3

There are five Premier League sides competing in the Champions League this season

Champions League draw pots

Pot 1

PSG

Bayern Munich

Real Madrid

Liverpool

Inter Milan

Manchester City

Arsenal

Barcelona

Atletico Madrid

Pot 2

Aston Villa

Manchester United

Borussia Dortmund

Roma

Sporting

Porto

Club Brugge

PSV Eindhoven

Real Betis

Pot 3

Feyenoord

Lille

Napoli

RB Leipzig

Villarreal

Shakhtar Donetsk

Galatasaray

Winner of Fenerbahce vs Lyon

Pot 3 or 4

Winner of Bodo/Glimt

Winner of Dinamo Zagreb vs Viking

LASK

Slavia Prague

Pot 4

Read full news in source page