Liverpool have moved a step closer to finding out who they will face in the Champions League round-of-16 after the league phase came to an end. The Reds had already secured progression to the last 16 by clinching a top-two finish with a game to spare.

Despite losing 3-2 away to PSV Eindhoven in their final league match, Arne Slot’s men still finished first after Barcelona drew 2-2 at home to Atalanta, with their route to the final already plotted as a result.

UEFA had already loosely determined the path for the knockout stage draw ahead of the inaugural edition of the revamped tournament.

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Liverpool will face one of the sides that finished 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th, with the quartet first set to be drawn against each other in the knockout phase play-offs.

Prior to the last round of fixtures, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Juventus and Celtic occupied such berths - presenting the possibility of a nightmare draw. But fortunately for the Reds, results on Wednesday inevitably ensured such standings switched around.

At half-time Club Brugge, Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica and Feyenoord moved into such positions, but this changed again once the final whistles had blown across the continent.

Paris Saint-Germain and Benfica finished the league phase in 15th and 16th respectively to be seeded for the knockout phase play-off draw. They will each be drawn against either the unseeded Monaco or Brest after they secured 17th and 18th place finishes.

The draw for the knockout phase play-offs will be held on Friday, January 31, but Liverpool won’t find out which of the two winners they will face and which side of the draw they will be on until after the round-of-16 draw on Friday, February 21.

The play-off phase first legs will be played on February 11-12, with the second legs then following on February 18-19. The victors in the relevant tie will then proceed to face the Reds in the round-of-16.

The other knockout phase play-off winner will be on the same side as second-placed Barcelona, with Slot’s side then unable to face either until the final in Munich on 31 May.

Liverpool are seeded for the round-of-16 draw, so will be away from home for the first leg on March 4-5 before welcoming their opponents to Anfield on March 11-12.

Should the Reds progress to the quarter-finals, they will then face one of Lille/Aston Villa, Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund and Sporting CP/Club Brugge in the last eight.

One of Arsenal/Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid/Bayer Leverkusen, Real Madrid/Bayern Munich, AC Milan/PSV, Feyenoord/Juventus and Celtic/Manchester City would then await in the semi-final.

However, one of each potential pairing will also be drawn on the other side of the draw to Liverpool and not be able to face them until the final as a result.