Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp could be handed a major Premier League fixture headache on either side of their Champions League knockout ties with Real Madrid in the new year.
After securing safe passage out of Group A behind Serie A leaders Napoli, Klopp's side were handed the most formidable draw possible at the round of 16 phase: a rematch of last season's final with Real Madrid.
While no dates have been confirmed for the fixtures as of yet, the Reds will definitely host the 14-time European Cup winners at Anfield in the first leg due to being one of the eight unseeded teams in the last-16 draw.
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It means that the La Liga champions will travel to a packed Anfield for the first time in nine years on either February 14/15 or 21/22 2023. If it was to be the earlier of the two dates, it means Liverpool would be heading into the clash just days after playing against Everton in the Merseyside derby at Anfield, which is due to take place on February 11. However, like with any fixture between the local rivals, it is anticipated that the game will be moved for broadcast purposes. A visit to Newcastle United would follow the first Madrid encounter.
Klopp's men would be handed greater respite if their home tie was to be played during the last week of February, as it means the visit of Los Blancos would be sandwiched between that trip to Newcastle scheduled for February 18, and a match at Crystal Palace, scheduled for February 25.
The away leg in the Spanish capital is scheduled for either March 7/8 or 14/15. If it is played on the former of dates, it would come after the Reds host Manchester United on March 4. But if it is played on the latter of those dates, it would fall between clashes away to Bournemouth on March 11 and at home to another newly-promoted club, Fulham, on March 18.
The showdown with Madrid will be just the 10th and 11th meetings between the two clubs, with the most recent of those, of course, coming in last season's Champions League final in Paris. Aside from that, the two teams most recently met in a two-legged affair during the 2020/21 season - although due to renovation works taking place at the Santiago Bernabéu, the away leg took place at Madrid's Alfredo Di Stéfano's training ground , where the Reds lost 3-1, before drawing 0-0 at Anfield. Fans were not present for either game.
Liverpool's potential fixture list:
FEBRUARY
4th Wolves (A)
11th Everton (H)
14/15th Real Madrid (H) (1)
18th Newcastle (A)
21/22 Real Madrid (H) (2)
25th Crystal Palace (A)
MARCH
4th Manchester United (H)
7/8th Real Madrid (A) (1)
11th Bournemouth (A)
14/15th Real Madrid (A) (2)
18th Fulham (H)
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