Liverpool’s return to Champions League action for the first time in five years and Real Madrid’s shaky start to the season dominate the start of the new battle for the elite European title yesterday
Liverpool take on surprise Bulgarian team Ludogorets Razgrad, while defending champions Real clash with Switzerland’s Basel in the key matches of the first day.
German champions Bayern Munich play English counterparts Manchester City on Wednesday when Barcelona, Chelsea and Paris St Germain also set off on the gruelling campaign.
Only captain Steven Gerrard remains from the 18-man squad which featured in Liverpool’s last Champions League match, a 2-1 loss at home to Fiorentina in December 2009.
