Liverpool will be banned from facing Real Madrid in next season's Champions League league phase should both sides qualify for Europe's premier club competition.

This is because of a specific UEFA regulation, as the two clubs have been drawn against one another in two successive campaigns since the format changed. Arne Slot's team beat Madrid 2-0 at Anfield in late November last season and will welcome the Spanish giants again this week.

It will mark the 13th occasion Liverpool have encountered Real Madrid in the tournament, with all bar one of those clashes occurring in the past 16 years.

Nevertheless, only two of those fixtures have been played in the previous group stages format, with the other encounters happening in the knockout rounds of the competition, including three finals (1981, 2021 and 2022).

However, according to paragraph 16.03 of the UEFA Champions League regulations, the two sides will not face each other in next year's league phase edition of the tournament.

The regulation states: "In accordance with paragraph 16.03 of the UEFA Champions League regulations, the UEFA Club Competitions Committee has...