Liverpool travel to AC Milan in Champions League opener 

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah. Picture: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.

Liverpool will start their Champions League campaign away to AC Milan - opponents the Reds have met twice in the final.

Arne Slot's side will head to the San Siro on September 18 to take on the Rossoneri.

Liverpool famously beat Milan on penalties in the 2005 final after fighting back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 after extra time, while the Italians exacted revenge two years later to win 2-1 in Athens.

Italian opposition also provide Liverpool's first home game on October 2 in the shape of Bologna, while reigning champions Real Madrid head to Anfield on November 27.

Premier League champions Manchester City will face Inter Milan in their competition opener on September 18 - a repeat of the 2023 final in Istanbul, which Pep Guardiola's side won 1-0.

City's next test on October 1 is a trip to Slovan Bratislava, with eye-catching fixtures against Juventus (home) and Paris St Germain (away) on December 11 and January 22 respectively at the back end of the league phase.

Arsenal kick off their campaign with a trip to Atalanta on September 19 and host Paris St Germain on October 2.

Aston Villa travel to Swiss side Young Boys on September 17 for their first game in the competition since 1982-83.

Villa's first home fixture against Bayern Munich on October 2 will evoke memories of them winning the European Cup when they beat the Bundesliga giants 1-0 in the 1982 final.

Scottish champions Celtic start at home against Slovan Bratislava on September 18 before heading to last season's beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund on October 1.

Celtic visit Villa on matchday eight on January 29 when all final league phase games will kick-off simultaneously at 8pm.

This is the first time that a revamped 36-team competition has been held.

Each entrant will have four home games and four away before the knock-out stages.