Liverpool set to be impacted by Champions League rule change - if Reds qualify

UEFA has confirmed a Champions League rule change for the 2026-27 season, which will prevent the same fixture at the same venue for three consecutive seasons, impacting the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal if they qualify again

The Champions League format continues to change(Image: Getty Images)

A Champions League rule change coming into effect next season will affect clubs competing in the tournament, particularly Liverpool, should the Reds qualify once more.

The revamped Champions League format has split opinion among supporters since its launch at the start of last season, with critics bemoaning the fixture congestion. However, governing body UEFA has already opted to implement further modifications to Europe's premier club competition.

From the 2026-27 campaign onwards, the initial league phase draw will prevent any fixture between identical teams being replicated across three consecutive seasons. That said, this will only apply when the same side is hosting the fixture.

For example, Liverpool vs. Real Madrid at Anfield and Inter Milan vs. Arsenal at San Siro will not be permitted for a third consecutive time by UEFA's software conducting the group phase draw.

Liverpool defeated Madrid 2-0 in 2024 and 1-0 in 2025 at Anfield, while the Gunners suffered a 1-0 defeat at Inter in 2024 before securing a 3-1 triumph earlier this month.

The alteration, which means they can only face each other in reversed fixtures, was announced ahead of the draw for the league phase at the start of this season.

Mikel Arteta and Arne Slot are both trying to win the Champions League(Image: Getty Images)

This season's competition features 27 teams who qualified through their league positions, alongside the winners of last season's Champions League and Europa League, plus the seven sides who came through qualifying.

The participating teams were divided into four pots according to their individual UEFA coefficient ranking. Each club would face eight matches in total, taking on two teams from each pot - one home fixture and one away.

No group stage encounter could involve sides from the same nation, and no team could play more than two fixtures against clubs from another country.

Arsenal and Liverpool both have a realistic chance of securing Champions League qualification for next season.

The Gunners head into the final league phase matchday, which concludes tonight with all 18 fixtures kicking off simultaneously, sitting top of the table with seven wins from seven matches.

Liverpool occupies fourth spot on 15 points, while Tottenham sits just a single point behind in fifth.

Highlighting the dominance of English clubs during this stage of the competition, Newcastle and Chelsea find themselves in seventh and eighth place, respectively, although they too face the prospect of dropping out of the automatic qualification positions.

Manchester City currently languishes in 11th place in the 36-team league phase. Pep Guardiola's players will require a victory against Galatasaray on Wednesday if they hold any ambitions of avoiding the two-legged play-offs next month.