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Champions League: Who we could play in knockouts
Champions League: Who we could play in knockouts
After we wrapped up the Champions League league phase by becoming the first club to win all eight of our matches, our fate in the knockout stages is starting to emerge.
Last night saw 24 teams advance in the competition, while another 12 were eliminated. 16 of those 24 will do battle in the play-off round, which we will skip courtesy of finishing in the top eight. Meanwhile our spot at the top of the table means we will have second-leg home advantage right the way through the knockout stages.
So who could we face, and when will we know? We’ve analysed everything for you here:
Who has qualified for the last 16 already?
As well as ourselves, seven other teams can enjoy a couple of midweeks off during February with their spots in the last 16 secure.
Bayern Munich finished second, with the only points they dropped courtesy of our 3-1 success back in November. Liverpool and Tottenham finished third and fourth, while two other fellow Premier League teams have also advanced – Chelsea and Manchester City.
The final spot was secured by Sporting Lisbon, who scored a 94th-minute winner against Athletic Club to advance.
Who could join them?
That result pushed Real Madrid into the play-off round as they finished ninth, just ahead of last season’s finalists – Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, who drew with Newcastle United as both sides failed to seize a top eight spot.
Those teams, as well as Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen, finished in the top 16 so will be seeded in the play-off round draw, and will have home advantage in the second leg.
The eight unseeded teams will be Borussia Dortmund, Olympiacos, Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Monaco, Qarabag, Bodo/Glimt and Benfica, who sealed their spot in dramatic circumstances thanks to a 98th-minute header from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin to beat Real Madrid 4-2 and leapfrog Marseille on goal difference.
The French side, as well as Pafos, Union Saint-Gilloise, PSV Eindhoven, Athletic Club, Napoli, Copenhagen, Ajax, Eintracht Frankfurt, Slavia Prague, Villarreal and Kairat Almaty have seen their European dreams end this season.
Who could we face?
Each team’s position in the league will determine which teams they will face in the play-off round. As the teams who finished ninth and 10th, Real Madrid and Inter Milan will be paired, and will play the teams who finished in the last two qualifying spots – Bodo/Glimt in 23rd and Benfica in 24th. That process is repeated for the other seven ties.
However, the top eight qualifiers have also been placed into the bracket at the last 16 stage, and as the team who finished first in the table, we know we will face one of the sides that finished between 15th and 18th spot.
Those clubs are Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund and Olympiacos.
When will we know our opponents?
The draw to determine the play-off round matchups will take place on Friday at 11am UK time, when our potential pool of opponents will drop to two.
The first leg of the play-off round will take place on February 17-18, followed by the second leg on February 24-25. After that, we’ll know who our opponent will be. There will then be another draw on February 27 to plot out the remaining fixtures for the rest of the knockout stages, and allow us to map out a route to the final.
The last-16 gets underway in March, with the first leg away from home on 10-11th, before we host our opponents at Emirates Stadium on 17-18 March.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Man City (Szoboszlai, 74)
HE’S DONE IT AGAIN!
An absolutely sensational free-kick goal from Dominik Szoboszlai. This one might be even better than the one against Arsenal.
From a central position, around 25 yards out, it’s an absolutely sensational hit which swerves out of reach of Donnarumma, who doesn’t even dive, and slams into the net off the post.
Amazing. And what could that mean for the title race? Arsenal staying nine points clear as it stands.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Man City (Szoboszlai, 74)
HE’S DONE IT AGAIN!
An absolutely sensational free-kick goal from Dominik Szoboszlai. This one might be even better than the one against Arsenal.
From a central position, around 25 yards out, it’s an absolutely sensational hit which swerves out of reach of Donnarumma, who doesn’t even dive, and slams into the net off the post.
Amazing. And what could that mean for the title race? Arsenal staying nine points clear as it stLiverpool vs Man City LIVE! Premier League match updates, news, score, stream and highlights – live on Sky Sports
Sunday 8 February 2026 18:05, UK
Second Half: Liverpool 1-0 Man City – live on Sky
Szoboszlai scores OUTRAGEOUS free-kick! View post
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Ekitike missed huge chance as Liverpool came to life View post | Teams
Live Premier Leagueands.
Liverpool vs Man City LIVE! Premier League match updates, news, score, stream and highlights – live on Sky Sports
Sunday 8 February 2026 16:30, UK
First Half: Liverpool 0-0 Man City – live on Sky
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Liverpool FC team news vs. Man City: 6 defenders unavailable for Arne Slot
Liverpool have six defenders unavailable for their game against Man City, with Arne Slot‘s hand forced at centre-back and right-back.
Liverpool are down to their bare bones at the back, with six defenders unable to start as the Reds try to keep pace with their top-four competitors in the Premier League.
Liverpool Injury & Absentee List
PlayerInjury TypeStatusExpected ReturnJoe GomezKneeDoubtMan City (H)Jeremie FrimpongGroinUnavailableEarly MarchConor BradleyKnee (Surgery)UnavailablePre-season 2026Giovanni LeoniACL (Surgery)UnavailableNext seasonAlexander IsakFibula FractureUnavailableLate MarchStefan BajceticHamstringRehabLate FebruaryJayden DannsHamstringRehabFebruaryWellity LuckyHamstringUnavailableApril
Joe Gomez‘s fitness is the main talking point ahead of the match at Anfield, given his presence would provide cover at centre-back and full-back.
He didn’t train on Thursday, though, and Slot explained: “We have a little bit of hope that he might train on Saturday.
“So not available to start, but maybe available to help the team if needed during the game because, as you know, there are not that many defenders available at the moment.”
With Giovanni Leoni out until next season, academy defenders Amara Nallo and Wellity Lucky have made the bench in the Premier League a combined five times this season.
The latter is injured, however, so unable to come in against Man City.
Nallo got injured during Tuesday’s UEFA Youth League exit to MSK Zilina, but was named to start for the U21s on Saturday, meaning he will not be available at Anfield.
As for Lucky’s injury, the 20-year-old is set to be sidelined until April due to a hamstring injury sustained in training midway through January.
Also on Liverpool’s list of absentees is right-back Conor Bradley, who will miss the rest of the campaign.
Like Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong is currently injured but his outlook is more positive than his teammate’s.
Slot gave a brief update on the flying Dutchman’s fitness, saying he “will definitely not train this week” due to his ongoing groin problem.
With Nallo featuring at academy level, Liverpool will be without six defensive options against Man City.
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Liverpool Predicted XI vs. Man City: Szoboszlai right-back, no start for Jones
Liverpool’s available squad vs. Man City
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Mamardashvili, Woodman
Defenders: Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Robertson, Ramsay
Midfielders: Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister, Endo, Nyoni
Forwards: Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike, Ngumoha, Chiesa
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