UEFA rule bars Liverpool from hosting Atletico Madrid at Anfield for third straight season

Liverpool cannot host Atletico Madrid at Anfield in next season’s Champions League league phase, UEFA rules dictate, after the same fixture is set to take place at the same ground for a second successive season on Wednesday.

Arne Slot’s side welcome Diego Simeone’s Atletico to Merseyside on Matchday 1 of the 2025-26 group stage — an exact repeat of the opening fixture from last season. Under a new UEFA regulation, the same league-phase match cannot be staged with the same home side at the same venue in three consecutive seasons, making a third successive home draw against Atletico impossible for Liverpool next term.

The restriction does not apply to the reverse fixture. Should both clubs qualify for the 2026-27 edition, Atletico could still be drawn to host Liverpool at the Metropolitano. It is also unrelated to the fact that both encounters fell on Matchday 1.

Those who watched last month’s Champions League draw would have experienced a strong sense of déjà vu when Liverpool were again paired with Atletico at home. The two sides met under identical circumstances on 17 September last season, with Liverpool producing a dramatic comeback to win 3-2 at Anfield.

Mohamed Salah put the hosts two goals ahead inside six minutes — first with a free kick that cannoned in off Andy Robertson, then with a composed finish after a one-two with Ryan Gravenberch. Atletico’s Marcos Llorente pulled one back just before half-time, and his deflected volley off Alexis Mac Allister levelled the score with ten minutes remaining.

It was captain Virgil van Dijk who settled the contest, rising to power home a header deep into stoppage time and seal a 3-2 victory that launched Liverpool’s European campaign in emphatic fashion.

Wednesday’s rematch at Anfield is one of several high-profile Matchday 1 fixtures, with Real Madrid hosting Inter Milan at the Bernabeu and Arsenal travelling to Napoli.