Trent returns to Anfield and 4 other storylines to look forward to after UCL draw

The Champions League draw came with a wave of mouth-watering fixtures, unexpected reunions, and plenty of drama guaranteed under the bright European nights.

From old teammates locking horns to managers revisiting familiar grounds, the group stage already feels like a blockbuster waiting to unfold.

It’s the kind of script that writes itself, Trent Alexander-Arnold stepping back onto the Anfield pitch, but this time not in Liverpool red.

The hometown hero, now strutting his stuff with Real Madrid, will face the Kop as an opponent for the very first time after his acrimonious summer exit.

The emotions will be raw: will he soak up the atmosphere and thrive under the floodlights, or will the weight of nostalgia make it a night to forget?

Either way, this clash is set to be one of the most emotional fixtures of the season, especially for Liverpool fans who watched him rise from academy prodigy to world-class full-back.

Another reunion written in the stars is Belgian legend Kevin De Bruyne’s return to Manchester City’s Etihad.

After years of orchestrating City’s midfield dominance, the Belgian maestro now comes back wearing Napoli colours.

The fans will no doubt shower him with love, but Pep Guardiola’s men will not be showing any mercy once the whistle blows.

For De Bruyne, it’s both a homecoming and a chance to show Guardiola that he still has what it takes to dominate at the top, and for neutrals, it’s pure footballing theatre.

Football loves a friendship reunion, and the Champions League has gifted us one with Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze facing off.

The two lit up Crystal Palace together with their dazzling flair and unpredictability, but now they will be standing on opposite sides of the European stage.

Eze’s recent move to Arsenal comes a year after Olise swapped London for Bavaria thanks to a €60m transfer, and now the pals, who were thick as thieves, will find themselves at war when the Gunners take on Bayern Munich.

Expect tricks, flicks, and maybe a cheeky nutmeg or two, as both will be desperate to prove who the real star of South London is.

Ousmane Dembélé’s Barcelona chapter was a rollercoaster of brilliance and frustration, but now he gets another shot at revenge.

The Frenchman has faced his former side in a previous Champions League tie, scoring twice and assisting once as PSG beat Barcelona 6-4 on aggregate in the 2023/24 quarterfinal, angering Blaugrana faithful with his celebration of both of his goals.

Since then, Demebele has become a huge success with PSG. helping the French club to an unprecedented Champions League title, makig him a front-runner for the Ballon d’Or.

Among Demebele’s rivals for the prestigious award are two Barcelona stars, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, adding even more spice to an already tasty fixture.

Finally, there’s Pep, striding back into the Santiago Bernabéu like a man who knows he hass always been the villain in Madrid.

Real Madrid vs Manchester City has quietly become the Champions League rivalry of the modern era, and Guardiola’s side returning returning for the fifth season in a row stirs the drama further.

The Spanish gaffer has beaten them and been beaten by them, and every meeting has been laced with excitement and entertainment.

With a new rival in Madrid in the form of Xabi Alonso expect mind games, tactical tweaks, and maybe another classic added to this never-ending saga.