It's been a journey into the unknown, but the new-look 36-team Champions League is finally reaching the climax of the league phase.  While we're starting to get some kind of idea of who's going to go through,

Much has changed in this season's Champions League, the knockout play-off phase being one major new introduction

While Liverpool narrowly missed clinching top spot with a game to spare in the Champions League despite a 2-1 defeat of French side Lille on Tuesday, manager Arne Slot said finishing in the top eight and avoiding two playoff games was the most important thing.

A year of unprecedented pressures on the global football calendar begins with a Champions League first, as two rounds of matches in Europe's elite club competition take place in January and some of the continent's biggest names face a scrap to avoid a humiliating exit.

Liverpool Cruise Past Lille to Secure Champions League Last-16 SpotMohamed Salah reached another milestone, scoring his 50th European goal for Liverpool as the Reds secured their place in the

Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Celtic feature in new Champions League format; 36 teams form a single league, with each entrant playing eight different clubs, four at home and four away;

While Liverpool narrowly missed clinching top spot with a game to spare in the Champions League despite a 2-1 defeat of French side Lille on Tuesday, manager Arne Slot said finishing in the top eight and avoiding two playoff games was the most important thing.

Top eight advance directly to Round of 16. Teams ranked 9-24 will compete in knockout round play-offs to determine the remaining spots in the last 16.