Liverpool will reunite with Xabi Alonso in the Champions League group stage.
Alonso spent six years at Anfield and was briefly earmarked as Jurgen Klopp’s successor before ultimately deciding to stay at Bayer Leverkusen.
But the former midfielder is set to return after the Bundesliga champions were pitted against the Reds Thursday’s draw for Europe’s elite club competition.
In addition to facing Alonso’s Leverkusen, Arne Slot’s side will play host to Champions League holders Real Madrid, Lille and newcomers Bologna.
The away fixtures in the revamped group stage sees them facing trips to RB Leipzig, AC Milan, PSV Eindhoven and La Liga surprise package Girona.
A confirmed schedule for all fixtures is due to be confirmed on Saturday.
“There will be a lot of focus on the fixture against Real Madrid at Anfield, and rightly so because they are the holders of the competition,” said Slot.
“But at the same time there is so much quality among our other opponents that we will spread our attention evenly and take each game as it comes.
“PSV are a team I know really well, of course, and – like Bayer Leverkusen – they are champions of their own country, so the standard is very clear and it runs through all of the clubs that we will face.
“I could talk about each of them and what they will bring but the time to do that is when the fixtures come around.
“For now, we will look forward and keep working because there are a lot of games to come in the Premier League and in the Champions League, and the only way to approach them is one at a time.”