Liverpool win Champions League main phase, top clashes in the playoffs

Liverpool have won the Champions League main phase in the historic first edition of Europe's most prestigious club tournament with a new format. The Merseysiders suffered their opening defeat, losing 2:3 away to PSV Eindhoven, but it did not cost them top spot as Barcelona failed to beat Atalanta and finished 2:2 at home.

The Reds needed a point in the Netherlands to secure top spot but failed to get it after a whirlwind opening half in which all five goals were scored. Former PSV player Cody Gakpo opened the scoring for the Merseysiders from the penalty spot before Johan Bakayoko equalised. Harvey Elliott restored the visitors' lead before Ismael Saibari and Ricardo Pepi turned the tables on them at the end of the half. Arne Slott's men, however, ended up on top after Barca failed to secure a much-needed win over Atalanta. The Bergamasco side showed character, equalising twice through Ederson and Mario Pasalic. Atalanta, however, fell outside the top eight, finishing in ninth place.

The following eight teams advance directly to the round of 16: Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille and Aston Villa. The teams that will play in the play-offs to reach the top 16 are Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, PSV Eindhoven, Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, Monaco, Brest, Feyenoord, Juventus, Celtic, Manchester City, Sporting Lisbon and Club Brugge. The Belgians finished 24th despite losing to City 1:3 at the Etihad - the team has a better goal difference than the Croatian Dinamo Zagreb, who achieved a pyrrhic victory over Milan 2:1 at home. In addition to Dinamo, the tournament and their entire participation in Europe were also parted ways with Stuttgart, Shakhtar Donetsk, Bologna, Red Star Belgrade, Sturm Graz, Sparta Prague, RB Leipzig, Girona, RB Salzburg, Slovan Bratislava and Young Boys.

After the matches of the last eighth round of the main phase were played, the distribution of the teams for the next stage became clear. The teams that finished between 9th and 16th positions will be seeded for the first draw in the eliminations and will face a team from 17th to 24th place. The seeded team will host the second leg. This means that the English champions City will face either trophy holders Real or five-time winners Bayern.

The draw for the play-offs will take place tomorrow at 13:00. The difference in the new edition is that teams from the same country and group can meet. The first legs of the play-offs are on 11 and 12 February, with the second legs a week later. The draw for the round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals is on 21 February. The first legs of the round of 16 are on 4/5 March, with the second legs on 11/12 March. The quarter-finals will be played on 8/9 and 15/16 April, and the semi-finals on 29/30 April and 6/7 May. The final at the Allianz Arena in Munich is scheduled for 31 May.

All results from the eighth round of the main phase in the Champions League:

Aston Villa - Celtic 4:2

Barcelona - Atalanta 2:2

Bayer Leverkusen - Sparta Prague 2:0

Bayern Munich - Slovan Bratislava 3:1

Borussia Dortmund - Shakhtar Donetsk 3:1

Brest - Real Madrid 0:3

Dinamo Zagreb - Milan 2:1

Girona - Arsenal 1:2

Inter - Monaco 3:0

Juventus - Benfica 0:2

Lille - Feyenoord 6:1