UEFA rule prevents Liverpool from hosting Real Madrid at Anfield

A UEFA regulation prevents Liverpool from hosting Real Madrid at Anfield during the Champions League league phase if the matchup would result in the same team hosting the same opponent for three consecutive seasons.

Because Real Madrid has visited Anfield in the previous two seasons, any potential third consecutive meeting in the league phase must take place at the Santiago Bernabéu. This rule is part of UEFA's efforts to ensure variety in matchups under the new league format and prevent identical home-and-away pairings from repeating year after year.