Champions League Draw: Alexander-arnold Primed For Swift Liverpool Reunion

Trent Alexander-Arnold will make a swift return to Anfield aft Liverpool were drawn to big Real Madrid successful this season’s Champions League.

The right-back will look his aged teammates months aft his arguable move to nan Bernabéu, which drew vocal disapproval from sections of nan Liverpool support.

It was 1 of respective high-profile reunions thrown up successful a convention shape tie that besides pits Kevin De Bruyne, now pinch Napoli, against Manchester City. The Napoli manager, Antonio Conte, will besides meet his erstwhile nine Chelsea. Arsenal will premier themselves for nan latest quality of Harry Kane, a long-time nemesis while astatine Spurs, successful Bayern Munich colours astatine nan Emirates.

The now customary sprawling draw, which paired each of nan 36 contenders pinch 8 opponents, offered England’s six representatives a mixed bag. Liverpool will besides big Real’s metropolis neighbours, Atlético, arsenic good arsenic softer-looking tasks against PSV Eindhoven and nan Azeri champions, Qarabag. They will recreation to Inter, Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille and Galatasaray.

Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold will return to Anfield. Photograph: Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images

Manchester City will renew acquaintances erstwhile again pinch Real Madrid, who they person faced 10 times successful nan past 5 and a half years. Madrid astir precocious defeated them 6-3 connected aggregate successful nan knockout playoff information successful February and will big this season’s necktie astatine nan Bernabéu. City will besides sojourn newcomers Bodø/Glimt, Villarreal and Monaco; Pep Guardiola’s broadside will big Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Galatasaray on pinch Napoli.

Arsenal will dream to avenge their quarter-final defeat against Kane and Bayern of 2023-24. Atlético, Olympiakos and nan Kazakh debutants Kairat Almaty will besides sojourn northbound London; past season’s Premier League runners-up will recreation to Inter, Club Brugge, Slavia Prague and Athletic Bilbao.

Chelsea look a comparatively tough-looking way done nan convention phase. They will meet Barcelona, Benfica, Ajax and nan Cypriot broadside Pafos astatine Stamford Bridge, playing distant ties against Bayern, Atalanta, Napoli and Qarabag.

Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich knocked Arsenal retired successful 2023-24. Photograph: David Klein/Reuters

The taxable of reunions persists for Tottenham, who will recreation to Bodø/Glimt aft defeating nan Norwegians successful nan Europa League semi-finals successful May. Spurs besides look nan reigning champions, Paris Saint-Germain, who edged them retired on penalties successful nan Super Cup a fortnight ago, astatine nan Parc des Princes. Their assignments connected nan roadworthy see Frankfurt, different force from 2024-25, and Monaco. Thomas Frank’s squad big Dortmund, Villarreal, Slavia Prague and Copenhagen.

There will beryllium fewer easy games for Newcastle, peculiarly if they find themselves shorn of Alexander Isak earlier nan title begins. St James’ Park will play big to Barcelona, Benfica, PSV and Athletic Bilbao; their fans will await trips to PSG, Bayer Leverkusen, Marseille and Union Saint-Gilloise.

Other noteworthy clashes see a rerun of nan 2021 last betwixt PSG and Bayern, on pinch an epic travel to nan Kazakh superior for Real Madrid erstwhile they look Kairat Almaty.

The first group of games will return spot betwixt 16 and 18 September; 5 consequent rounds are scheduled earlier mid-December, pinch 2 much lined up for January. The bid of nan fixtures, on pinch dates and kick-off times, will beryllium released connected Saturday.

This study will update