Jose Mourinho is returning to Real Madrid as manager, but he won’t be able to face Liverpool at Anfield in the league phase of next season’s Champions League.
The constantly travelling Real Madrid circus has thrown up its latest trick, appointing Mourinho on a two-year deal.
He will take over from ex-Liverpool player Alvaro Arbeloa, who has been interim coach since his former teammate, Xabi Alonso, left in January.
Mourinho returns to Madrid 13 years after his last spell at the Bernabeu, which lasted three years and saw him win the domestic double in 2012.
MADRID, SPAIN - Wednesday, April 25, 2012: Real Madrid's head coach Jose Mourinho against FC Bayern Munchen during the UEFA Champions League Semi-Final 2nd Leg match at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Sky Sports report that Mourinho will take four coaches with him from Benfica, where he has spent just one season.
He signed a two-year deal with the Portuguese giants last summer, but a clause in the contract has allowed him to walk away for £2.6 million.
Benfica actually went the entire Primeira Liga season unbeaten, but 11 draws cost them and meant they finished third, two points behind Sporting and eight off champions Porto.
The job at Madrid has been a poisoned chalice for their latest coaches, as Alonso and Arbeloa have come to realise.
Kylian Mbappe was booed by supporters upon his return from injury last weekend, and players have quite literally been coming to blows (Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni).
Why Liverpool cannot face Real Madrid at home in the league phase
Liverpool’s Conor Bradley (centre) impressed against Real Madrid (Peter Byrne/PA).
Should they qualify for the Champions League, Liverpool would not be able to face Mourinho’s Madrid side at Anfield until the knockout stages due to UEFA rules around the new league phase system.
Part of paragraph 16.03 UEFA’s Champions League regulations states:
“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.”
In simpler terms, because Liverpool have played Madrid at Anfield in the previous two league phases, they cannot draw them at home again next year.
After eight meetings without a win, the Reds beat Los Blancos in their last two meetings, winning 2-0 in 2024 and 1-0 earlier this season.
Of course, for UEFA’s rule to even come into play, Liverpool must qualify for the competition.
Despite Liverpool failing to win any of their last three Premier League matches, they are still likely to get into the top five thanks to results at the weekend.
Bournemouth vs. Man City Permutations
•If Man City WIN:
Liverpool officially qualify for the Champions League. Bournemouth‘s maximum points total would drop to 58 (one fewer than Liverpool’s 59).
•If the match is a DRAW:
Liverpool essentially qualify. Bournemouth would need a massive goal difference swing (+6) and a Liverpool loss to Brentford to steal 5th.
•If Bournemouth WIN:
The race goes to the final day. Liverpool would need at least a point against Brentford to guarantee qualification without relying on other results.
If Bournemouth lose against Man City on Tuesday, Arne Slot‘s side will qualify. A draw would effectively also do the job, as the Cherries would then require a six-goal swing in goal difference on the final day.
Should Bournemouth beat Man City, then Liverpool could need to beat Brentford to secure their Champions League spot.