BREAKING NEWS: Arsenal POTENTIAL quarter Final draw REVEALED After winning Dinamo Zagreb to qualify for the next round yesterday – As Mikel men faces stronger opposition side that could eliminate them from the quarter Final stage after latest DRAW this morning
BREAKING NEWS: Arsenal POTENTIAL quarter Final draw REVEALED After winning Dinamo Zagreb to qualify for the next round yesterday – As Mikel men faces stronger opposition side that could eliminate them from the quarter Final stage after latest DRAW this morning
Liverpool are the only team in the Champions League to progress to the group stage with a flawless win record as they comfortably lead the 32-club table.
After the 2-1 win over Lille, Liverpool sealed a place directly into the last-16. Even teams ranked as low as 26th on the table still have a shot at progressing, making for an exciting period with just two games left until the advancing teams are confirmed
Most squads now face a couple of weeks filled with various outcomes and uncertainty, although Arne Slot can afford to be quite relaxed. His Liverpool squad has gained a significant advantage over the busy festive and New Year period, allowing them to rest and rotate throughout January.
However, Manchester City and Arsenal aren’t as fortunate. Mikel Arteta’s side are on course to qualify for the next round, sitting fifth in the table – just two points off third-placed Atletico Madrid.
Here, football.london provides all the information you need about the knockout rounds and draws.
When are the Champions League knockout stages?
The new format of the Champions League means that there’s a potential split on the horizon. The top eight teams will advance directly to the last-16, while those ranked ninth to 24th will enter a play-off round.
Matchday seven is scheduled for midweek (January 21 and 22), with the final set of games all taking place simultaneously on January 29. There’s then a brief pause for the play-offs.
The first legs are slated for February 11 or 12, with the return fixtures one week later on February 18 or 19. This could mean Liverpool have a month-long break from Champions League action.
When will the last-16 games take place?
The last-16 matches are due to be played on March 4 and 5, with second legs the following week. By March 12, clubs will know their fate and who remains in the final eight.
When is the draw for the Champions League knockout stage?
As for the draw for the Champions League knockout stage, there’s both good and bad news for Liverpool. The good news is that once through the play-offs, they’ll only have one draw to determine their path to the final, as it’s being done in one go rather than in increasingly small events as has been the norm.
The downside is that due to the play-offs, Liverpool may have to wait until February 21 before their name appears in a draw. This is because the play-off draw will be held on January 31 after matchday eight concludes.
The round-of-16 draw is then nearly a whole month later
