![\"Liverpool](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_GettyImages-2258160496.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLiverpool avoided the Champions League play-offs after finishing inside the top eight spots, but will be keeping an eye on how its potential last-16 opponents are getting on<\/p>\n
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.(Image: Ed Sykes\/Sportsphoto\/Allstar via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Liverpool avoided the Champions League play-off by finishing in the top eight of the league phase, meaning Arne Slot and his players have this midweek and the next one off.<\/p>\n
Given the hectic schedule and the lack of options due to injuries<\/a> and a limited pool of players for Liverpool to pick from at the moment, that was a huge boost. But the Reds can still keep an eye on developments in Europe in the meantime.<\/p>\n In the last-16, Liverpool<\/a> knows that it will face one of Galatasaray, Juventus, Club Brugge or Atletico Madrid<\/a>. A draw will pair the winner of one of those ties with the Reds and one with Spurs.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Philippe Coutinho demands contract is terminated as latest transfer move turns sour<\/a>READ MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold closer to Liverpool return after Champions League tie suspended<\/a><\/p>\n On Tuesday, Galatasaray hammered 10-man Juventus<\/a> by five goals to two, taking a commanding lead in that clash. The Italian side, at home next midweek, faces an uphill battle to progress.<\/p>\n Then on Wednesday, Club Brugge came from two goals down against Atletico Madrid, only for the Spanish outfit to retake the lead via a Joel Ordonez own goal and Christos Tzolis to level things up again.<\/p>\n It would appear, with Galatasaray winning by a three-goal margin, that it will be one of the two options that Liverpool could face next. Atletico Madrid, having drawn 3-3 in Belgium, will expect to get the job done in the reverse leg, but Club Brugge has given itself a chance.<\/p>\n Teun Koopmeiners scored twice for Juventus in the first leg of its play-off against Galatasaray(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n Looking further ahead, should Liverpool beat whoever it faces next, the rest of the competition is taking shape too.<\/p>\n PSG came from behind to beat fellow French side AS Monaco, with the winner of that match-up going on to face one of Barcelona<\/a> or Chelsea in the last-16 before a potential meeting with Liverpool in the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, Benfica and Real Madrid<\/a> faced each other again, just a few weeks after the Portuguese side secured a spot in the play-offs in the most dramatic of circumstances, beating the Spanish giant thanks to goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin’s header.<\/p>\n UEFA is currently investigating alleged racist abuse directed at Vinicius Jr in that game.<\/p>\n Get LFC’s 2025\/26 season home and away kits<\/p>\n This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/a> From $100<\/p>\n LFC.com<\/p>\n See the deal<\/a><\/p>\n Liverpool’s home and away strips for the 2025\/26 season are the first in their new partnership with adidas.<\/p>\n Fans can order jerseys in the US at Fanatics.com<\/a> or via the LFC Online Store<\/a> in both the US and across the world.<\/p>\n Borussia Dortmund took charge of its tie with Atalanta, winning 2-0 in the home leg. Any one of those four sides is a potential semi-final opponent should Liverpool make it that far.<\/p>\n Liverpool \u2014 as a top-eight qualifier \u2014 will host the second leg of their last-16 tie at Anfield<\/a>. The round of 16 draw is on February 27, a couple of days after the second legs in the play-offs are concluded.<\/p>\n![\"Juventus'](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_GettyImages-2261657697.jpg\")
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