Liverpool will discover their opponents in the League Phase of the 2026/2027 Champions League on Thursday
Andoni Iraola manager / head coach of Liverpool reacts
Liverpool will find out their Champions League fixtures on Thursday(Image: Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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Liverpool will find out their Champions League fate on Thursday when the draw for the 2026/2027 League Phase takes place. This year's tournament will mark Andoni Iraola's first taste of the competition.
The six-time winners will be looking to go all the way for the first time since 2019. This year's final will also take place at the home of that triumph, Atletico Madrid's Metropolitano Stadium.
However, there are a few rounds before then, namely, the League phase. How does it work? Thirty-six teams will enter the league phase and Liverpool will play eight games, facing off against two teams from each of the four pots. Crucially, teams cannot face another side from the same country at this stage.
Following those games, the top eight qualify for the last 16. Those who finish between nine and 28 will do battle in a two-legged play-off round, with the eight winners then heading to the last 16 as unseeded teams. The sides that finish between 29 and 36 will be eliminated.
Here, we take a look at a nightmare draw scenario for Liverpool with the eight teams they'll want to avoid as this year's tournament gets underway on September 8.
Paris Saint-Germain (Pot 1)
Facing the back-to-back European champions is a nightmare for any side. However, with Luis Enrique's side knocking the Reds out of the tournament consecutively over the last two years, Iraola will be wary of facing them again this season.
Marquinhos centre-back of PSG and Brazil lifts the Champions League trophy during the UEFA Champions League Final 2026 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal FC at Puskas Arena on May 30, 2026 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
PSG won the Champions League last year, beating Arsenal in the final(Image: Jose Breton/NurPhoto)
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Liverpool have played the Parisians eight times in their history, winning just three of those ties. There could also be added spice if PSG winger Bradley Barcola joins the Reds before transfer deadline day, making this match-up one to avoid.
Real Madrid (Pot 1)
While the Reds have turned the tide against Los Blancos in recent years, beating them twice in the Champions League in the last two years, Real are still a formidable prospect. There's also the small matter of the Spanish giants beating the Reds in two European Cup finals in recent years (2018 and 2022).
Playing Real would see another reunion with Trent Alexander-Arnold, after the ex-Reds full-back returned to Anfield last season with Real and was roundly booed.
The game would also set the Reds up against Jose Mourinho, now in charge of Los Blancos, who would no doubt present Liverpool with a tricky fixture. However, Liverpool are not able to face Real at Anfield, owing to a UEFA rule change.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield on November 04, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Trent Alexander-Arnold was booed by sections of the Liverpool support in November last year(Image: Carl Recine, Getty Images)
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Borussia Dortmund (Pot 2)
The Reds haven't played the German giants since 2016, when Jurgen Klopp guided Liverpool to a memorable 4-3 win over his former team in the Europa League quarter finals.
BVB have always been a troubling side for Liverpool to face, however, with the Reds winning just two of their five fixtures against the Bundesliga giants.
Niko Kovac's side fell to Atlanta last season in a knockout phase play-off. But they will still be a tough fixture for any team this year with the likes of Felix Nmecha and Julian Ryserson making them a robust unit.
Roma (Pot 2)
Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma are back in the Champions League for the first time since 2019. The Serie A side represent one of the more difficult match-ups in the second pot, which also contains the likes of PSV, Real Betis and Club Brugge, but it should still be a relatively simple task should the Reds draw them.
Yet Liverpool have only beaten Roma three times in their seven meetings, with their last meeting a 4-2 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico in a 2018 Champions League semi-final, a tie the Reds ultimately won.
Galatasaray (Pot 3)
Quite simply, Liverpool will not want to face Galatasaray yet again. Yes, the Reds blew the Turkish side away at Anfield with a 4-0 scoreline in last season's competition, but they have played each other three times since September 2025.
Prior to the win at Anfield last season, Liverpool had lost their last three games against Galatasaray and have still only won two of their seven meetings, making them something of a bogey side. Add in the stunning form of Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen and this will be a clash Iraola will want to swerve.
Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen(Image: Arife Karakum/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Como (Pot 4)
Several teams from pot four are something of an unknown quantity to the Reds, but Como are not. The Reds faced the Italians twice in pre-season in back-to-back games.
Como manager Cesc Fabregas
Cesc Fabregas has impressed as Como manager(Image: Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
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Cesc Fabregas' side are well-drilled and have a point to prove, considering this is their first-ever appearance in the competition.
The stylish, attacking outfit have also built a new stand at the Stadio Sinigaglia in order to meet UEFA standards, but until then they will host their Champions League games at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia. After finishing in fourth in Serie A last season, ahead of Milan, Juventus and Atlanta, Como will be a force to be reckoned with.