Arsenal and Liverpool discover Champions League last 16 opponents after chaotic night

Arsenal and Liverpool are both safely through to the Champions League knockout stage.

Arsenal and Liverpool have both made it to the knockout stage of this season’s Champions league

After a frantic night on which all 36 Champions League teams played at the same time, Arsenal and Liverpool now have a much clearer picture of who they will face in the last 16.

Both sides were assured of their places in the knockout stage even before a ball was kicked on Wednesday night. Arsenal made a host of changes but still beat Girona 2-1 in Spain, while Liverpool’s youngsters lost 3-2 at PSV Eindhoven.

Arne Slot’s side are therefore in line to play either Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, AS Monaco or Brest.

Arsenal finished third in the standings with six wins, a draw and a defeat. Like Liverpool, the strong finish has boosted their chances of earning a favourable last-16 draw.

Mikel Arteta’s players will face either the 13th, 14th, 19th or 20th-place team. The Gunners are therefore on course to face AC Milan, PSV, Feyenoord or Juventus.

Arne Slot’s Liverpool won all bar one of their league phase matches

The pool of four potential teams will be narrowed down to two in the knockout phase play-off draw on Friday. Then, once the play-offs have been contested, the draw for the last 16 itself will be made on February 21, with the two-legged knockout ties pencilled in for March.

Liverpool will naturally be keen to avoid a daunting meeting with PSG, who beat Manchester City 4-2 last week. Arsenal, meanwhile, may be eager to dodge a showdown with Italian giants AC Milan and Juventus.