Liverpool have just two games left of their Champions League league phase to get into the top eight and avoid the extra play-off round.
Champions League State of Play: A quick look
• Top 8 Battle: Liverpool currently sit 9th on 12 points. To secure an automatic last-16 spot and avoid a February play-off, they likely need 4 more points from their final two games.
• The Reward: Finishing in the top 8 means skipping two extra fixtures in an already congested February schedule and securing a home second leg in the last 16.
• Safety Net: While a top-8 spot is the goal, Liverpool are virtually guaranteed at least a play-off place (top 24), sitting six points clear of the elimination zone.
With European football resuming after a winter break, Liverpool are back in Champions League action as they head to Marseille for their penultimate league phase match.
Last season was a learning curve for everyone. Liverpool cruised through the league phase, winning every match until the final dead rubber against PSV.
It meant that in their two-post Christmas league phase matches, Arne Slot knew they were virtually assured a top-eight finish so could afford to rest players.
Liverpool don’t have that luxury this year as they currently sit ninth, behind Atletico Madrid only on goals scored.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, November 26, 2025: Liverpool's players form a pre-match huddle before the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
What are the advantages of finishing in the top eight of the Champions League league phase?
Should Liverpool finish in the top eight, they would progress straight through to the round of 16 and avoid a two-legged play-off round to reach the last 16.
Finishing in the top eight would also carry the potential advantage of playing at Anfield in the second leg of their last-16 tie.
Where are Liverpool in the Champions League league phase table?
* Champions League table after MD6
Ahead of matchday seven, Liverpool sit ninth and level on 12 points with Atletico, Real Madrid and Inter Milan in an extremely congested table.
Above Slot’s side, Atalanta, Man City, PSG and Bayern also lie within three points’ reach of the Reds, while there are 11 sides within three points below Liverpool.
How many points do Liverpool need to finish in the top eight of the Champions League league phase?
With Liverpool currently on 12 points with two matches remaining, you would expect them to need a minimum of four more points.
Last season, the cut-off to finish in the top eight was 16 points. For Liverpool to reach that tally, they would need a win and a draw from their two remaining matches, against Marseille away and Qarabag at home.
Is there any danger of Liverpool dropping out altogether?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, November 26, 2025: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot before the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The Reds aren’t mathematically yet safe yet, but it would require two losses and a miraculous swathe of results for Liverpool to end up outside the top 24.
After matchday 6, Benfica are 25th and six points behind the Reds with two games left to play.
When is the Champions League play-off round?
If Liverpool were to finish outside of the top eight, they would enter the play-off round against a fellow team that finished from ninth to 24th.
The play-off round will take place either side of a trip to Forest, with the first leg on February 17/18 and the second leg on Feb 24 or 25.
2025/26 Champions League schedule
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 10, 2024: The UEFA Champions League trophy. General. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
• Play-off round 1st leg: February 17/18
• Play-off round 2nd leg: February 24/25
• Round of 16 1st leg: March 10/11
• Round of 16 2nd leg: March 17/18
• Quarter-final 1st leg: April 7/8
• Quarter-final 2nd leg: April 14/15
• Semi-final 1st leg: April 28/29
• Semi-final 2nd leg: May 5/6
• Final: Saturday, May 30
Champions League table after MD6
Rank Team Points
1 Arsenal 18
2 Bayern Munich 15
3 PSG 13
4 Man City 13
5 Atalanta 13
6 Inter Milan 12
7 Real Madrid 12
8 Atletico Madrid 12
9 Liverpool 12
10 Borussia Dortmund 11
11 Tottenham 11
12 Newcastle 10
13 Chelsea 10
14 Sporting CP 10
15 Barcelona 10
16 Marseille 9
17 Juventus 9
18 Galatasaray 9
19 Monaco 9
20 Bayer Leverkusen 9
21 PSV 8
22 Qarabag 7
23 Napoli 7
24 FC Copenhagen 7
25 Benfica 6
26 Pafos 6
27 Union SG 6
28 Athletic Club 5
29 Olympiacos 5
30 Eintracht Frankfurt 4
31 Club Brugge 4
32 Bodo/Glimt 3
33 Slavia Prague 3
34 Ajax 3
35 Villarreal 1
36 Kairat Almaty 1