Trent Alexander-Arnold will make a swift return to Anfield after his new club, Real Madrid, were drawn to face Liverpool again in this season's Champions League. The right-back will meet his former teammates months after his controversial move to the Bernabéu, which drew vocal disapproval from sections of the Liverpool support towards the end of last season.
Alexander-Arnold, an academy product who spent two decades on the club's books, was booed at the match against Arsenal in May after announcing that he would leave upon the expiry of his contract. Reunions were a running theme in the draw, which paired each of the 36 contenders with eight league phase opponents and included a record six Premier League clubs.
Kevin De Bruyne should receive a warm welcome to the Etihad when he comes back with Napoli; the Serie A winners will also host Chelsea in a tie that pits Antonio Conte against one of his former clubs. Arsenal will prime themselves for the latest appearance of Harry Kane, a long-time nemesis while at Spurs, in Bayern Munich colours at the Emirates.
Liverpool will bring up a Madrid double, with Real's city rivals Atlético also travelling to Merseyside. Softer-looking tasks against PSV and Qarabag complete their home schedule; they will travel to Inter, Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille and Galatasaray. Arne Slot's side beat Real 2-0 at the same stage last November and the manager called their imminent rematch 'a fixture that the whole world will be looking at'.
Manchester City will renew acquaintances with Real, who they have faced 10 times in the past five and a half years. Real most recently defeated them 6-3 on aggregate in February's knockout playoff round and will host this tie. City will also visit newcomers Bodø/Glimt, Villarreal and Monaco, while hosting Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Galatasaray along with Napoli.
