The dates and times for Liverpool’s league phase fixtures in the Champions League have been confirmed, with Andoni Iraola‘s European tenure kicking off against Atletico Madrid.
Liverpool’s eight opponents for the league phase were confirmed in Thursday’s draw, with four matches at home and four away.
Iraola’s side will face Atletico Madrid (H), Inter (A), Porto (H), Club Brugge (A), Villarreal (H), Fenerbahce (A), Lens (H) and LASK (A) in the first phase of the competition.
And supporters can now plan their travels and visits to Anfield as the dates and times for the fixtures have been finalised.
Liverpool league stage dates
Matchday 1: Atletico Madrid (H) – Wednesday, September 9, 8pm (BST)
Matchday 2: LASK (A) – Wednesday, October 14, 5.45pm
Matchday 3: Villarreal (H) – Tuesday, October 20, 8pm
Matchday 4: Fenerbahce (A) – Wednesday, November 4, 5.45pm
Matchday 5: Club Brugge (A) – Wednesday, November 25, 8pm
Matchday 6: Porto (H) – Wednesday, December 9, 8pm
Matchday 7: Inter Milan (A) – Tuesday, January 19, 8pm
Matchday 8: Lens (H) – Wednesday, January 27, 8pm
* In the UK, all Champions League fixtures will continue to be broadcast live by TNT Sports and Amazon Prime.
How the Champions League format works
MONACO, MONACO - AUGUST 27: General view of the UEFA Champions League trophy ahead of the draw at Grimaldi Forum on August 27, 2026 in Monaco, Monaco. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
MONACO, MONACO - AUGUST 27: General view of the UEFA Champions League trophy ahead of the draw at Grimaldi Forum on August 27, 2026 in Monaco, Monaco. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
In the last two seasons of the Champions League, 16 points have been the benchmark to qualify for the top eight and progress automatically to the last 16, bypassing the two-legged playoff.
UEFA have moved to incentivise finishing in the top positions, as teams who finish in the top four will guarantee a home second leg in the last 16 and quarter-final, if they make it.
Moreover, teams that finish first and second will also be allocated as the home team in the semi-final second leg.
Liverpool finished the league phase first and third in the last two seasons, before being eliminated in the round of 16 and quarter-final, respectively.
If a seeded team (any side who finish in the top four) is beaten in any round, the team that eliminates them takes over their seeding position in the bracket.
This will be Iraola’s first-ever Champions League campaign as a manager. As a player, he featured three times for Athletic Club in 2014/15.
The fixture list is an interesting mix for the Spaniard, who will be aware that his side will face Man City, Arsenal, Man United (twice), and Chelsea before five of their league phase games this season, three of which will be played at Anfield.
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