English clubs are set for a difficult challenge in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League league phase.
Liverpool and Manchester City will both face 15-time winners Real Madrid, while Tottenham and Newcastle have been drawn against defending champions Paris St-Germain.
For Liverpool, the draw means a return to Anfield for former star Trent Alexander-Arnold, who now plays for Real Madrid.
The Reds will also face Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid. Meanwhile, Manchester City’s schedule includes games against Napoli and Borussia Dortmund.
Arsenal will play Bayern Munich, featuring former Spurs forward Harry Kane, and Inter Milan. Chelsea will take on European powerhouses Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Newcastle’s return to the competition includes a trip to St. James’ Park for Barcelona, while Tottenham will play against Dortmund and Monaco.
The first matches of the new 36-team league format kick off on September 16, with the final round of games scheduled for January 28, 2026. The final will be held in Budapest.
The top eight teams from the league phase will automatically qualify for the knockout stages, with teams ranked ninth to 24th entering a play-off round.
