Liverpool Champions League 2014/15 fixtures: Reds begin against Ludogorets before Real Madrid double-header

Bulgarians up first for Brendan Rodgers' side

£16m signing Mario Balotelli will be in action for Liverpool in the group stage (GETTY IMAGES)

Liverpool begin their first Champions League campaign since 2010 with a home match against Bulgarian side Ludogorets Razgrad in Group B.

Ludogorets Razgrad, of course, qualified to the group stage after their heroic defender Cosmin Moti saved two penalties in the shoot-out win over Steaua Bucharest.

Then the hotly anticipated double-header against the holders Real Madrid starts on 22 October.

Full fixtures

16 Sept - Ludogorets (H)

1 Oct - Basel (A)

22 Oct - Real Madrid (H)

4 Nov - Real Madrid (A)

26 Nov - Ludogorets (A)

9 Dec - Basel (H)