Liverpool will return to the Champions League in 2024/25 with the opportunity to write new history under Arne Slot. A poor 2022/23 Premier League season meant the Reds had to settle for Europa League football last year. A terrible run of form in April saw Jurgen Klopp’s side crash out in the quarter-finals to Atalanta. Last Word on Football looks ahead to Liverpool’s UCL league phase matches in the remade format.
Liverpool’s Champions League: League Phase Matches
The Home Games
The Champions League’s first stage is now a 36-team league phase instead of the traditional group stage. Liverpool’s first game at Anfield comes on October 2 against Bologna. The Italian side haven’t played in Europe’s premier club competition since the 1964/65 season. The underdogs earned their place in the competition by finishing fifth in Serie A last year. However, after losing manager Thiago Motta to Juventus and striker Joshua Zirkzee to Manchester United, there is heavy doubt that they can repeat that feat this season.
Read More: How Arne Slot’s ‘Transformed’ Star Can Revolutionise Liverpool’s Midfield
Next on November 5, the Reds welcome Xabi Alonso back to Merseyside for a showdown with Bayer Leverkusen. The Bundesliga champions lost their unbeaten record to RB Leipzig in their second league game of 2024/25. The fact that the former Liverpool midfielder turned down the opportunity to be Klopp’s successor in the summer will only add an extra edge to the fixture.
In their penultimate home League Phase game, Liverpool will get a chance at revenge against Real Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti’s side have ended the Reds’ last three Champions League campaigns and have many players that have been linked with a move to Anfield. Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose contract expires at the end of the season, has been linked with a move to the Bernabeu. With all the storylines surrounding this fixture, Liverpool fans are sure to be in full voice when Kylian Mbappe and company visit Merseyside.
Read More: Liverpool Complete 5-Step Process to Confirm ‘Highly-Rated’ Youngster Signing
Matchday seven will see French side Lille travel to Anfield. Bruno Genesio’s side finished fourth in Ligue 1 last season and beat Slavia Praha in the Playoff Round to earn their place in the League Phase. Les Dogues possess many exciting young players, including Jonathan David, Angel Gomes, and Ethan Mbappe.
The Away Games
Liverpool start their Champions League campaign with a tough trip to Italy to take on AC Milan. The two sides last met in the Group Stage in 2021 with the Reds winning 2-1 thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi. Paulo Fonseca’s side haven’t won a game in Serie A so far this season and will look to pick up form before the start of their European campaign. The Milan squad contains many former Chelsea players, including Alvaro Morata, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Tammy Abraham.
Read More: ‘No Concrete Talks’: Manchester United ‘Serial Winner’ Set to Stay Despite Links
Next, Slot will take his side to Germany for a game against RB Leipzig. Marco Rose’s side have had an excellent start to the season, beating VfL Bochum and Leverkusen. The two sides last met in the 2021 Round of 16, with Liverpool winning 4-0 on aggregate. The tie will also see Dominik Szoboszlai return to his former club for the first time. The Hungarian scored 12 league goals in 2 seasons in the Bundesliga.
Following a run of games including Manchester City, Real Madrid, Newcastle United, and Everton, Liverpool will travel to Spain to take on Girona in their final Champions League game of 2024. The City Football Group owns 47% of the Spanish club and oversaw their rise to a third-place finish in La Liga last season. Reds fans will recognise players Arnaut Danjuma, Donny van de Beek, and Bryan Gil from their time in the Premier League.
Liverpool’s last League Phase game is against Eredivisie’s PSV, a familiar opponent for Slot. The Reds’ new manager will be looking for revenge on Peter Bosz’s side; they beat the 45-year-old’s Feyenoord to the league title last season. Rood-Witten play their home games at the Phillips Stadium, which has a capacity of 35,119.
Read More: ‘Not for Sale’: Arsenal Reject Bid for ‘Key Player’ Who is ‘Irreplaceable’
The Reds need to get results in difficult games to advance in the 36-team league phase. The top eight qualify directly for the Round of 16, while teams ranked nine through 24, complete in a two-legged playoff to reach that round. The competition then continues as we know it, with the final taking place in Munich. In Klopp’s final years, the Reds suffered some painful European exits; Liverpool’s UCL League Phase draw gives them the chance to get revenge.
