Image Credits: Imago Images
Liverpool will enter the Champions League league phase draw with towering expectations after their campaign last season that saw them top the competition’s inaugural league format, only to fall short against eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain in a dramatic round of 16 clash.
The highly anticipated draw ceremony takes place at Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum on Thursday, August 28 at 6pm CET (5pm UK time), where all 36 qualified teams will discover their eight opponents for the second season of the revolutionary league format.
Liverpool is confirmed as pot one seeds by virtue of their Premier League title triumph.
The automated draw system returns from last season, with each team manually drawn before sophisticated software determines their eight different opponents – two from each of the four seeding pots, with one home and one away fixture against teams from each tier.
This ensures no team faces the same opponent twice while maintaining geographic restrictions that prevent clubs from the same association meeting.
The league phase fixtures will run from September 16 through January 28, 2026, with Liverpool playing four home and four away matches across eight matchdays.
Event Date Details
Champions League League Phase Draw August 28, 2025 Draw ceremony at Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum, 6pm CET (5pm UK time)
Release of Fixture List August 30, 2025 Full schedule with dates and kick-off times published
League Phase Matchdays Begin September 16, 2025 Liverpool starts group stage matches (8 matchdays total)
League Phase Matchdays End January 28, 2026 Conclusion of league phase and standings confirmed
Round of 16 Knockouts Begin February 2026 Top 8 teams progress directly; 9th-24th enter playoffs
2025-26 Champions League Final May 30, 2026 Final at Puskás Aréna, Budapest
The format guarantees greater variety and intensity from the opening fixtures, eliminating the traditional group stage safety net.
Under the revamped knockout qualification system, only the top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16, while those finishing 9th to 24th must navigate a two-legged playoff.
Teams ranked 25th or below face elimination without the previous Europa League lifeline.
The fixture list with specific dates and kick-off times will be released no later than Saturday, August 30, giving Liverpool and their supporters clarity on their European journey.
With the final scheduled for Budapest’s Puskás Aréna on May 30, 2026, the Reds will be determined to go and secure No.7
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