LIVERPOOL HANDED CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BOOST
THE group stage of the Champions League concluded on Wednesday and Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham will all be looking forward to Monday’s last 16 draw.
Liverpool will not face Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League after the French giants finished second in Group H.
The Reds finished as runners-up in Group A and were at risk of drawing PSG, yet that’s no longer possible after Wednesday night’s results. It also means Manchester City, Chelsea or Tottenham could now face Christophe Galtier’s side in the first knockout round.
PSG were denied top spot in Group H after Benfica hammered Maccabi Haifa 6-1 in their final game. As PSG also won their last match by beating Juventus 2-1, Benfica were deemed group winners by virtue of away goals scored - boasting a nine to six advantage.
PSG would’ve won Group H if it wasn’t for Joao Mario’s 92nd-minute goal. Positions in Champions League groups are determined by points, goal difference, goal scored and then away goals scored. The two games between PSG and Benfica both finished 1-1. “Firstly, congratulations to Benfica,” said Galtier at full-time. “I have to congratulate my team, my squad too. We’ve beaten Juventus twice and we were very happy until the 92nd minute. But if you want to go far in this competition, you have to beat big teams.” English clubs can’t be drawn against fellow Premier League sides or their group-stage opponents in the last 16, which limits the number of teams Liverpool can be drawn against. Their potential opponents are Porto, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Benfica.
City, Chelsea and Tottenham will all be hoping to avoid PSG in the draw, which takes place in Switzerland on Monday. City’s potential opponents are Club Brugge, Inter Milan, Eintracht Frankfurt, AC Milan, RB Leipzig and, of course, the Ligue 1 champions.
Chelsea’s scouting department will be preparing for a tie against Brugge, Inter, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Dortmund or PSG. Tottenham’s potential opponents are Brugge, Inter, Milan, Leipzig, Dortmund and PSG. The latter are undoubtedly the most feared side.
PSG have never won a European Cup and are desperate to end their drought. They’ve assembled one of the most dangerous attacks in Europe, as Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar have scored 44 goals between them this season. It’s only November.