Liverpool learns which four sides it can play in Champions League last 16
After an exhausting final night of European action, Liverpool and its fellow Champions League sides know who has progressed (and who hasn’t) to the knockout stages of the competition.
Liverpool already knew ahead of the final night of action that it had secured a place in the last 16 and would bypass the playoffs, with only Barcelona in the same camp. With the Catalan side drawing 2-2 at home to Atalanta, it means Liverpool's 3-2 slip-up against PSV Eindhoven didn't matter, and it topped the table with 21 points.
But the Reds were joined in the last-16 by Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille and, Aston Villa after a chaotic final night of the league phase. As for the playoffs, there could be some intriguing ties next month with the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City involved.
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Who could Liverpool play in the last-16?
With the group stage now concluded, Liverpool also knows which four sides it could play in the last 16. The Reds were well aware they would play one of the teams who finished between 15th and 18th, and those four clubs are: Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, Monaco, and Brest.
What happens next?
A draw will be concluded on Friday to see which of the 15th-18th placed clubs will play each other in the playoffs. Once those matches are completed next month another draw will take place on February 21 to decide which of the two playoff winners Liverpool will play.
Anything else?
As a seeded team, Liverpool will play the second leg at home in the last 16 stage. Arne Slot’s side finishing first also means it can’t play team that finishes second until the final, and in the quarterfinal stage Liverpool can’t play a team that finished higher than seventh in the league phase.
In the past, once the Champions League knockout phase began, teams were unable to face clubs they had already come up against in the group, or from the same country. But that’s not the case this season and Liverpool could hypothetically play a Premier League opponent.
When will the last 16 be played?
Liverpool will enjoy a February without Champions League football now and return at the start of March. The last 16 first legs will be placed on 4 and 5 March, with the reverse meetings on 11 and 12 March.
