Why can't Real Madrid play at Anfield in the Champions League league phase?

What the report says

BBC Sport explains that Real Madrid cannot be drawn to play Liverpool at Anfield in the upcoming Champions League league phase if the same home fixture has been staged in the previous two seasons. The rule, introduced by Uefa for this season, is designed to prevent the same team from hosting the same opponent in the same competition for three straight years.

The article says the issue affects several leading clubs, including Liverpool, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Arsenal, who are all in pot one for the 2026-27 league phase draw. Under the new format, each team plays eight matches against different opponents, with home and away assignments determined by the draw. If Liverpool and Real Madrid were paired again, Uefa would ensure Liverpool could not host the game, because the clubs met at Anfield in both 2024-25 and 2025-26.

BBC Sport notes that a similar restriction applies to Inter Milan and Arsenal, who also met in consecutive seasons with Inter as the home side. The broadcaster says the rule does not stop the same teams from facing each other in three seasons running; it only blocks the same home-and-away pattern from repeating three years in a row. Thursday’s draw will determine the fixtures for the competition’s league phase.