How does the league phase work?published at 12:06 BST
12:06 BST
Champions League
Each of the 36 teams plays eight different teams – four at home and four away – in the league phase.
Teams who finish in the top eight automatically qualify for the last 16, while those placing ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged knockout play-off for the chance to join them.
Sides who finish 25th or lower will be eliminated, and will not drop into the Europa League.
Last season, eventual runners-up Arsenal topped the league phase standings with 24 points after eight wins from as many matches.
Liverpool were third – behind second-placed Bayern Munich – with 18 points while Tottenham finished one point behind in fourth.
Chelsea and Manchester City also qualified directly for the last 16 after finishing sixth and eighth respectively, while Newcastle finished 12th.
Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle and Spurs were knocked out in the last 16 last season while Liverpool were beaten in the quarter-finals by PSG, who also edged Arsenal in the final for their second consecutive title.