Arne Slot's Liverpool is fourth in the Champions League standings ahead of the final matchday on January 28, with Mikel Arteta's high-flying Arsenal set to finish top
Harry Brent Senior Sports Writer and Charlie Malam
07:00, 25 Jan 2026
Liverpool is close to securing a top-eight Champions League finish
Liverpool is close to securing a top-eight Champions League finish(Image: Getty Images)
The Champions League standings hang in the balance ahead of what promises to be a dramatic final matchday next week.
With all 36 teams down to the last game, those near the summit are scrambling to secure a place in the knockout rounds. All 18 Champions League matches will get underway at the same time - 3 pm ET on Wednesday, January 28 - with Liverpool facing Qarabag. Six Premier League clubs are in action, with five of them currently sitting in the top eight.
Teams finishing in the top eight receive seeding and progress straight through to the Round of 16, while those placed ninth to 24th must navigate a two-legged playoff to progress.
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Arsenal is virtually guaranteed to top the table thanks to a superior goal difference, while Liverpool and Tottenham require wins against Qarabag and Eintracht Frankfurt, respectively, to reach the Round of 16. Newcastle, Chelsea, and Manchester City remain locked in a fight for qualification. The three clubs are among eight teams tied on 13 points.
Due to the Champions League's revamped draw system, there's already some clarity on potential opponents for each club - though the standings could still change dramatically on the final evening of league phase soccer.
As things stand, 11th-placed Man City is the sole English side that will need to navigate a playoff to reach the Round of 16, which would pit it against either Monaco (21st) or PSV (22nd).
Liverpool beat Marseille in midweek
Liverpool beat Marseille in midweek(Image: Getty Images)
A win would pit City against either the fifth or sixth seed in the last 16. If the standings remain as they are, this could lead to a showdown with Tottenham or Paris Saint-Germain. Spurs are aware that if they sidestep City, their first knockout round opponents could be Monaco (21st), PSV (22nd), or Atletico Madrid (12th).
Arsenal, for topping the standings, could look forward to a Round of 16 tie against one of four teams: Galatasaray (17th), Qarabag (18th), Juventus (15th), or Borussia Dortmund (16th).
Currently sitting fourth, Liverpool could potentially face Atalanta (13th), Inter Milan (14th), Marseille (19th), or Bayer Leverkusen (20th) in the Round of 16 if the draw were to take place today.
Newcastle, currently seventh, could be set for an enticing clash with Barcelona (9th) if the Magpies maintain their seeding. Other potential adversaries include Sporting CP (10th), Athletic Club (23rd), or Olympiacos (24th). Chelsea, a team that is currently in eighth, has a similar pool of potential opponents as Newcastle.
The draw bracket indicates that Arsenal would share the same side of the draw as Newcastle and Chelsea, making an all-English quarterfinal a feasible scenario. Alternatively, Barcelona could be waiting in the wings for the last eight.
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As it stands, Liverpool could square off against Man City or Tottenham in the quarterfinals, while PSG or Atletico present other formidable possibilities.
With just one fixture left for each side, the standings remain fluid and could shift dramatically. Liverpool, hampered by an inferior goal difference, is unlikely to rise above third place.
Topping the league phase proved no advantage for the Reds last season, as they drew PSG in the Round of 16 and were eliminated. However, under this year's revised regulations, the Gunners would be guaranteed to host the second leg of every knockout tie should they finish as table-toppers.