Liverpool will reunite with former midfielder Curtis Jones and Inter Milan after discovering their opponents for the opening stage of this season’s UEFA Champions League.
Andoni Iraola has been handed an intriguing first European campaign as Liverpool head coach, with the Reds drawn against four teams at home and four away.
UK ONLY
The standout fixture will see Liverpool travel to San Siro to face Inter for the second successive season. The Reds won 1-0 there last season, but this time Jones will line up against his former club after joining the Serie A champions earlier this month.
Liverpool will also travel to Club Brugge, Fenerbahce and LASK, while Atletico Madrid, Villarreal, Lens and Porto will visit Anfield.
The Reds will be hoping to improve on their Champions League performances over the past two seasons, having reached the last 16 in 2024/25 and the quarter-finals last term.
Andoni Iraola is relishing the opportunity to lead Liverpool in the Champions League but is also aware of the difficult opponents that await the Reds.
Iraola told Liverpoolfc.com: “It’s 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.
“It’s up to us to be ready but we have two important Premier League games before then, which will be our full focus before we look at the Champions League.
“But the Champions League is a challenge that we are definitely looking forward to, and it is also exciting for our supporters in terms of the European nights we can experience at Anfield and the visits to stadiums in Italy, Belgium, Austria and Turkiye.
“Coming here, I knew how special the Champions League is and how much it has been part of Liverpool’s history, so it will be an honour for me and my staff to work with the team in this tournament.”
Liverpool’s eight opponents 🔴#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/y9xsIzZR0k
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 27, 2026
Want to get the latest Liverpool news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.