Liverpool make mockery of new Champions League rule as Arsenal plot qualification run

The new Champions League format took some getting used to, but it has been exciting and entertaining from the outset.

Following Wednesday night's matches, reigning champions Real Madrid are in 24th place - just inside the cut off zone for the knockout round - with just three games remaining. Paris Saint-Germain are 25th and in danger of missing out on the knockouts altogether.

With three more matchweeks to go, there could be some big movements in the league table before we reach the knockout phase.

READ MORE: Mikel Arteta has found a new Arsenal undroppable Pep Guardiola would crave

READ MORE: Gabriel, White, Tomiyasu - Arsenal injury news and return dates for West Ham after latest setback

With the competition expanding to 36 teams, the new format meant we were treated to one big league table, rather than eight groups of four, with each team playing eight different teams - four at home and four away. The top eight teams would advance to the last 16, with the next 16 teams - from ninth to 24th - playing a play-off match to reach the last 16. The top eight of those teams in the league table would be seeded and be paired with a team from the lower eight.

The new format was supposed to lead to more exciting matches and qualification going down to the wire. And that will be the case for most teams, but Liverpool are making something of a mockery of the plan to entice viewers in to the bitter end of the league phase.

Arne Slot's team made it five wins out of five - the only side with a 100% record - with a 2-0 victory over Real Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday night. And it was a thoroughly deserved victory over the reigning champions too.

The Reds are two points clear of Inter in second, three clear of Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund and five clear of ninth-placed Aston Villa. That means Liverpool would need to lose two of their three games and expect the teams chasing to win all of their remaining games to have any chance of slipping out of the automatic top eight places.

The Reds are already guaranteed a play-off place, sitting 11 points clear of 25th-placed PSG. That essentially means Slot can afford to rotate his squad, perhaps play a weakened team in the final two games, if not all three they have left, to still secure a last 16 spot.

The new league phase was designed to stop there being dead rubber matches. However, the Reds could well have two meaningless matches if they beat lowly Girona on matchday six.

Arsenal have put themselves firmly in the mix for a top eight spot thanks to a 5-1 victory away at Sporting CP on Tuesday night. The Gunners have 10 points from five matches and know it is now in their hands to qualify. Win all their matches and they will finish in the top eight. Mikel Arteta's side may even feel two wins would do it, although just one points currently separates 6th from 16th.

There can be no doubt that there is more jeopardy involved with the extra teams involved and the new format, but Liverpool are just proving too good for everyone else right now.