European governing body UEFA confirmed the full fixture schedule for the Champions League league phase on Saturday, with Manchester United hosting Azerbaijani newcomers Sabah at Old Trafford while Liverpool and Arsenal face tough openers against Atletico Madrid and Napoli.
The confirmation follows Thursday's draw for the revamped league phase, which assigned eight opponents each to England's five Premier League representatives: Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Europa League winners Aston Villa.
Opening Matchday Schedule
Aston Villa will be the first English side in action on Tuesday, September 8, travelling to Belgium to take on Club Brugge in a 5.45pm kick-off. Unai Emery's team enter the competition following their triumph in the UEFA Europa League last season.
Manchester City follow later that evening, with manager Enzo Maresca taking his team to Portugal to face Porto in an 8pm kick-off. City will look to begin their European campaign strongly away from home.
On Wednesday, September 9, Liverpool welcome Spanish side Atletico Madrid to Anfield for an 8pm kick-off. At the same time, last season's Champions League runners-up Arsenal travel to Italy to face Serie A side Napoli.
Manchester United begin their Champions League campaign on Thursday, September 10, when manager Michael Carrick leads his team against Azerbaijani debutants Sabah at Old Trafford in an 8pm kick-off.
Manchester United Fixtures
Following their opening home tie against Sabah, Manchester United face a challenging trip to Spain on October 13 to take on Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid in an 8pm kick-off.
Michael Carrick's side then travel to Italy on October 21 for a 5.45pm kick-off against Champions League debutants Como. United return to Old Trafford on November 3 to host Italian club Roma at 8pm, before travelling to Portugal to face Sporting on November 25 at 8pm.
The Red Devils host German side RB Leipzig on December 8 at 8pm. A blockbuster home clash against German giants Bayern Munich follows on January 20 at 8pm, before United wrap up their league phase away against Spanish side Villarreal on January 27 at 8pm.
Arsenal League Phase Fixtures
Arsenal start their European campaign at Napoli on September 9 at 8pm, before hosting French club Lille at the Emirates Stadium on October 13 at 8pm.
The Gunners face one of their busiest tests of the league phase on October 21, travelling to Germany to play Bayern Munich in an 8pm kick-off.
Arsenal then travel to the Czech Republic to face Slavia Prague on November 4 at 8pm. They return home to host German side Borussia Dortmund on November 24 at 8pm, followed by a high-profile home tie against Spanish giants Real Madrid on December 9 at 8pm.
The London club complete their league phase schedule with an away trip to Spanish side Real Betis on January 20 at 8pm and a home match against Sabah on January 27 at 8pm.
Liverpool Champions League Schedule
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola begins the campaign with one of his side's most demanding ties, hosting Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid at Anfield on September 9 at 8pm.
The Reds then travel to Austria to face LASK on October 14 at 5.45pm, before returning to Anfield to host Spanish side Villarreal on October 20 at 8pm.
Liverpool travel to Turkey to meet Fenerbahce on November 4 at 5.45pm and visit Belgian club Club Brugge on November 25 at 8pm. They host Portuguese side Porto at Anfield on December 9 at 8pm.
A standout fixture awaits Liverpool on January 19 at 8pm, when they travel to the iconic San Siro stadium to face Italian giants Inter Milan in the penultimate matchday. Iraola's team wrap up the league phase at home against French club Lens on January 27 at 8pm.
Manchester City Fixtures
Manchester City begin their league phase away to Porto on September 8 at 8pm under manager Enzo Maresca. In matchday two, City host two-time defending champions and back-to-back winners Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad Stadium on October 14 at 8pm.
City host Greek club AEK Athens on October 20 at 8pm, travel to Germany to play RB Leipzig on November 4 at 8pm, and welcome Italian side Napoli to the Etihad on November 24 at 8pm.
Maresca's side travel to Spain to face Barcelona at the famous Nou Camp on December 8 at 8pm. They play away against French club Lens on January 20 at 8pm, before wrapping up their campaign at home against Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon on January 27 at 8pm.
Aston Villa Schedule
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery leads his Europa League winners into their opening match at Club Brugge on September 8 at 5.45pm. Villa host Turkish club Fenerbahce in their second matchday on October 14 at 8pm.
Villa host Norwegian side Viking on October 21 at 8pm, before travelling to Spain to take on Spanish champions Barcelona on November 3 at 8pm.
Emery's side travel to Turkey to face Galatasaray on November 24 at 5.45pm. On December 8, Villa host French champions Paris Saint-Germain at 8pm in a repeat of this season's UEFA Super Cup final.
Aston Villa close their league phase campaign with a home clash against German side Borussia Dortmund on January 19 at 8pm, followed by an away match against Slavia Prague on January 27 at 8pm.
League Phase Progression Format
The UEFA Champions League uses an expanded single-league format for all 36 participating clubs. Each team plays eight matches against eight different opponents, with four fixtures at home and four away.
Following matchday eight on January 27, the top eight teams in the league standings will automatically qualify for the round of 16.
Clubs finishing between ninth and 24th place will enter a two-legged play-off round to compete for the remaining eight places in the last 16. Teams placed 25th and below will be eliminated from all European competition.
Below is the full league phase schedule for each Premier League team:
Arsenal
- 9 September 2026: 8pm Napoli (A)
- 13 October 2026: 8pm Lille (H)
- 21 October 2026: 8pm Bayern Munich (A)
- 4 November 2026: 8pm Slavia Prague (A)
- 24 November 2026: 8pm Borussia Dortmund (H)
- 9 December 2026: 8pm Real Madrid (H)
- 20 January 2027: 8pm Real Betis (A)
- 27 January 2027: 8pm Sabah (H)
Aston Villa
- 8 September 2026: 5.45pm Club Brugge (A)
- 14 October 2026: 8pm Fenerbahce (H)
- 21 October 2026: 8pm Viking (H)
- 3 November 2026: 8pm Barcelona (A)
- 24 November 2026: 5.45pm Galatasaray (A)
- 8 December 2026: 8pm Paris Saint-Germain (H)
- 19 January 2027: 8pm Borussia Dortmund (H)
- 27 January 2027: 8pm Slavia Prague (A)
Liverpool
- 9 September 2026: 8pm Atletico Madrid (H)
- 14 October 2026: 5.45pm LASK (A)
- 20 October 2026: 8pm Villarreal (H)
- 4 November 2026: 5.45pm Fenerbahce (A)
- 25 November 2026: 8pm Club Brugge (A)
- 9 December 2026: 8pm Porto (H)
- 19 January 2027: 8pm Inter Milan (A)
- 27 January 2027: 8pm Lens (H)
Manchester City
- 8 September 2026: 8pm Porto (A)
- 14 October 2026: 8pm PSG (H)
- 20 October 2026: 8pm AEK Athens (H)
- 4 November 2026: 8pm RB Leipzig (A)
- 24 November 2026: 8pm Napoli (H)
- 8 December 2026: 8pm Barcelona (A)
- 20 January 2027: 8pm Lens (A)
- 27 January 2027: 8pm Sporting Lisbon (H)
Manchester United
- 10 September 2026: 8pm Sabah (H)
- 13 October 2026: 8pm Atletico Madrid (A)
- 21 October 2026: 5.45pm Como (A)
- 3 November 2026: 8pm Roma (H)
- 25 November 2026: 8pm Sporting (A)
- 8 December 2026: 8pm RB Leipzig (H)
- 20 January 2027: 8pm Bayern (H)
- 27 January 2027: 8pm Villarreal (A)
