Real Madrid will not be heading to Anfield to take on Liverpool during the league phase of the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League.

Although the Champions League draw has not yet taken place, it is already confirmed that, after two consecutive trips to Anfield in the league phase, Madrid will not have to make that journey this time.

Liverpool’s official website has explained that UEFA regulations mean the Merseyside club cannot be drawn at home against Real Madrid for a third straight Champions League league phase.

Real Madrid have been given the same tough task in each of the last two seasons since the Champions League switched to its new league-phase format.

Los Blancos travelled to Anfield in the 2024-25 season and were beaten 2-0, with Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo scoring the goals.

The draw then sent Madrid back to Merseyside in 2025-26, where Liverpool once again came out on top, this time thanks to a second-half header from Mac Allister.

UEFA had already written a provision into its regulations to address exactly this situation for the 2026-27 season.

Crucially, the rule does not stop the two European heavyweights from meeting altogether.

Real Madrid can still be drawn against Liverpool, but if that happens, the match would have to be played at the Santiago Bernabeu.

That would certainly come as a welcome change for Madrid considering how their previous two visits to Anfield turned out.

Mourinho’s side would also enjoy home advantage if the two clubs are paired together this time.

The Champions League draw can still throw up plenty of difficult fixtures, but Madrid already know one scenario they will not have to deal with.

Real Madrid have signed two players from Liverpool as effectively free agents over the past two seasons, with Trent Alexander-Arnold arriving a season ago and Ibrahima Konate joining this summer.

Liverpool supporters and Trent Alexander-Arnold are no longer on good terms after his acrimonious exit.

However, both former Liverpool players will not be returning to Anfield, at least during the league phase of the Champions League.

Trent and the Anfield crowd have no love lost after the bitter way in which his departure unfolded.

Konate’s exit may not have sparked the same level of uproar, but in any case, neither player can be regarded as an Anfield favourite anymore.

It remains to be seen whether the pair will get the chance to face their former club at the Bernabeu when the draw is made, or whether this fixture will fail to materialise for the third successive year in the league stage.