Real Madrid will not be travelling to Anfield to face Liverpool during the league phase of the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League.
The draw for the Champions League may not have happened yet, but it is already certain that after two successive Anfield trips in the league phase, Madrid will not have to make the trip this time.
Liverpool’s official website explains that UEFA regulations mean the Merseyside club cannot be drawn at home against Los Blancos for a third consecutive Champions League league phase.
No third successive trip to AnfieldReal Madrid have been handed the same difficult assignment in each of the previous two seasons since the Champions League adopted its new league-phase format.
Los Blancos travelled to Anfield during the 2024-25 campaign, losing 2-0 after goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo.
The draw then sent Madrid back to Merseyside in 2025-26, where Liverpool again emerged victorious, this time through a Mac Allister header in the second half.
UEFA had already included a provision in its regulations covering precisely this possibility for the 2026-27 campaign.
Liverpool can still come to the BernabeuImportantly, the regulation does not prevent the two European giants from facing one another altogether.
Real Madrid can still be drawn against Liverpool, but this time the fixture would have to take place at the Santiago Bernabeu.
That would certainly represent a welcome change for Madrid given how their previous two visits to Anfield have unfolded.
Mourinho’s side would also have home advantage if the clubs are paired together this time around.
The Champions League draw can produce plenty of difficult assignments regardless, but Madrid already know one scenario they will not have to confront.
No homecoming for Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima KonateReal Madrid have signed two players as effectively free agents from Liverpool in the past two seasons, with Trent Alexander-Arnold arriving a season ago and Ibrahima Konate this summer.
Liverpool fans and Trent Alexander-Arnold have no love lost for one another after acrimonious exit. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
However, both former Reds will not be going back to Anfield, at least in the league phase of the Champions League.
Trent and the Anfield crowd have no love lost following the acrimonious manner in which his departure unfolded.
Konate’s departure may not have caused the same kind of furore but, regardless, neither player can be considered an Anfield favourite any longer.
It remains to be seen whether the duo get to face their former team at the Bernabeu when the draw is made, or whether this is a fixture that will not take place for the third successive year in the league stage.
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