The Paul Gorst verdict as Liverpool storm into the last-16 of the Champions League with a 6-0 success over Qarabag at Anfield that lifted the pressure on Arne Slot

The Paul Gorst verdict as Liverpool storm into the last-16 of the Champions League with a 6-0 success over Qarabag at Anfield that lifted the pressure on Arne Slot

The league phase of the Champions League reached a thrilling conclusion with 18 simultaneous games and a total of 61 goals, including one by Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin.

Leaders Arsenal maintained their perfect record with a 3-2 victory over Kairat Almaty. Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City also clinched top-eight finishes to go straight into the last 16.

Here's a look at some of the key themes from the league phase and what we know about the impending knockout stages.

Premier League clubs dominate

The final standings underline the strength of the Premier League.

Five of the top eight are English clubs, while no other nation has more than one.

Germany, Spain and Portugal have a representative each in Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Sporting.

Newcastle are the only English side to have missed out on a top-eight finish but go into the knockout phase play-offs as one of the seeded sides, having finished 12th, meaning they will face one of two unseeded teams in Qarabag or Monaco.

Since the introduction of the league phase format last season, the Premier League has had a combined eight top-eight finishes. It's more than twice as many as any other league, with Spain's La Liga next on three.

Image: Champions League knockout phase play-off permutations England set for fifth Champions League spot

One of the benefits of English teams performing so strongly in Europe is that the Premier League is now all but certain to repeat last season's feat of clinching a fifth Champions League spot by finishing in the top two of UEFA's coefficient table.

With five Premier League teams having gone straight into the Champions League last 16, and with all nine Premier League teams in Europe still alive in their respective competitions, England sits comfortably top of the table ahead of Germany.

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Newcastle were the beneficiaries last season, clinching their place in this campaign's Champions League with a fifth-placed Premier League finish. Now the door is open for another side to take advantage as English teams continue to perform strongly on the continent.

When English teams can face each other

With Newcastle the only English club in the knockout phase play-offs, there is no prospect of an all-English play-off.

The earliest opportunity for two English sides to meet is in the last 16, when Newcastle could come up against Chelsea, although we will have to wait until the draw for the last 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals on February 27 for that.

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Michael Dawson praised Newcastle's 'exceptional' display against Paris Saint-Germain

The earliest opportunity for any other all-English meetings is in the quarter-finals, when Manchester City could meet Arsenal and Chelsea or Newcastle could meet Tottenham or Liverpool.

Extra fixtures for Newcastle

While five of the six Premier League sides will benefit from back-to-back free midweeks in February having gone straight into the last 16, Newcastle add two games to an already hectic schedule.

Eddie Howe's side will play their play-off first and second legs on February 17 or 18 and February 24 or 25, in between Premier League games away to Manchester City on February 21 and at home to Everton on February 28.

Newcastle's manic month

• Jan 31: Liverpool (a), Premier League
• Feb 4: Man City (a), Carabao Cup semi-final second leg
• Feb 7: Brentford (h), Premier League
• Feb 11: Spurs (a), Premier League
• Feb 14: Aston Villa (a), FA Cup 4th round
• Feb 17 or 18: Qarabag or Monaco (a), Champions League play-off first leg
• Feb 21: Man City (a), Premier League
• Feb 24 or 25: Qarabag or Monaco (h), Champions League play-off second leg
• Feb 28: Everton (h), Premier League

Arsenal can't face Bayern until the final

Arsenal's first-place finish gives them a number of advantages. As the No 1 seed, they can't play a seed higher than 15th in the last 16, a seed higher than seventh until the quarter-final, Liverpool or Tottenham until the semis, and they avoid Bayern Munich until the final.

Image: Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres scored as Arsenal made it eight wins from eight

In addition, they will benefit from a new rule this season that states that the top two league phase finishers will play their second legs at home throughout the whole competition.

Man City could face Real Madrid… again

Meetings between Manchester City and Real Madrid have become annual events in the Champions League. The two sides have faced each other in five consecutive seasons in the competition having already gone head-to-head in the league phase in December.

Now they could meet again in the last 16.

Image: Erling Haaland celebrates scoring against Galatasaray

With Real Madrid having slipped into the play-off places, they will face either City or Sporting if they can get through their play-off tie against either Benfica or Bodo/Glimt.

Another meeting between Real Madrid would be good news for the neutral, if their previous knockout meetings are anything to go by. The last five two-legged ties have featured 40 goals, with Madrid advancing on three occasions and City on two.

Mourinho's Benfica rescued but big clubs to bow out

Incredible drama in Lisbon saw Jose Mourinho's Benfica clinch a play-off spot on goal difference thanks to a 98th-minute goal by goalkeeper Trubin against Real Madrid.

Remarkably, Benfica may now face Mourinho's former club in the play-offs, with the goal simultaneously knocking Real Madrid down to ninth.

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The Soccer Special team react to Benfica's remarkable late goal

But despite accusations of lack of jeopardy for the big clubs following the introduction of the league phase format last season, there were still some big beasts to fall this time around.

In fact, there are six European Cup wins among the clubs eliminated, with past winners Ajax, Marseille and PSV Eindhoven among the 12 clubs to bow out.

Napoli, Serie A winners last season, also went out having slumped to a 30th-placed league phase finish with their 3-2 loss to Chelsea, having won only two of their eight games under Antonio Conte.

Spain's Villarreal, two-time Champions League semi-finalists, went out even more meekly, failing to win a single game and taking a solitary point from their eight games as they finished second-bottom in 35th place.

When are the 2025/26 Champions League knockout stages?

Play-off draw: January 30, 2026
Knockout play-offs: February 17-18 and 24-25, 2026
Round of 16: March 10-11 and 17-18, 2026
Quarter-finals: April 7-8 and 14-15, 2026
Semi-finals: April 28-29 and May 5-6, 2026
Final: Saturday, May 30, 2026

Where is the Champions League final being held in 2026?

The 2025/26 Champions League final will take place in Budapest at the Puskas Arena on Saturday May 30.

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Ian Doyle with the main talking point from Liverpool's Champions League clash against Qarabag at Anfield on Wednesday evening

Ian Doyle with the main talking point from Liverpool's Champions League clash against Qarabag at Anfield on Wednesday evening

Liverpool booked their place in the last-16 of the Champions League in emphatic fashion as they dispatched Qarabag - but a big team could be waiting in the next round

Liverpool booked their place in the last-16 of the Champions League in emphatic fashion as they dispatched Qarabag - but a big team could be waiting in the next round

Ian Doyle with the Liverpool player ratings and scores from the Champions League clash at home to Qarabag on Wednesday evening

Ian Doyle with the Liverpool player ratings and scores from the Champions League clash at home to Qarabag on Wednesday evening

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Liverpool qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League with a 6-0 demolition of Qarabag at Anfield.

Alexis Mac Allister scored two with Florian Wirtz, Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa also on target as the Reds shrugged off their recent poor run in style to secure third spot in the league phase and ease the pressure on Arne Slot.

Jeremie Frimpong's early injury meant the night was not without its difficulties, leaving Liverpool deeper in a defensive injury crisis. They played this game with two midfielders in their back line but Mac Allister and Wirtz had them two up midway through the first half.

Player ratings:

Liverpool: Alisson (6), Frimpong (n/a), Gravenberch (7), Van Dijk (7), Robertson (7), Mac Allister (8), Szoboszlai (7), Wirtz (8), Salah (8), Ekitike (8), Gakpo (7).

Subs: Endo (7), Nyoni (6), Ngumoha (6), Chiesa (6).

Qarabag: Kochalski (6), Silva (5), Mustafazade (5), Medina (5), Jafarguliyev (5), Jankovic (7), Pedro Bicalho (6), Leandro Andrade (6) Montiel (6), Zoubir (5), Duran (6).

Subs: Bayramov (6), Daniel (6), Akhundzade (6), Addai (n/a).

Player of the Match: Alexis Mac Allister.

Team news:

• Andy Robertson and Hugo Ekitike came into the team beaten at Bournemouth with Milos Kerkez and the injured Joe Gomez the two to make way. Ryan Gravenberch dropped into defence.

Slot's side have had their difficulties against low blocks but Qarabag's more ambitious approach, attacking in numbers, played into Liverpool's hands. They had ample opportunities to increase the lead on the counter-attack and by winning the ball high.

Salah's curling free-kick made it three early in the second half before Ekitike added a stunning fourth after picking the ball up inside his own half. Mac Allister walked in a fifth on an evening when much of the angst around Liverpool's form faded away.

Slot had referenced that 'noise' in the build-up but the mood was celebratory in the end, victory sealed by Virgil van Dijk storming through to set up Chiesa for the sixth in the last minute. Andy Robertson, linked with a move, was serenaded after the final whistle. And, for all the challenges, Liverpool's European dream is alive.

Who will Liverpool face?

Liverpool will face Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Juventus or Atletico Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Image: Liverpool's Jeremie Frimpong goes down injured early in the first half Frimpong worry but will Liverpool buy?

Slot believes that Liverpool will be without Frimpong for the Premier League game against Newcastle at the weekend but refused to be drawn on whether the injury crisis at right-back will force the club into the market in this transfer window.

With Conor Bradley already out for the season, Frimpong's injury forced Wataru Endo to come on at right-back, with Ryan Gravenberch already deputising at centre-back due to absences there.

"It is obvious that if a player goes out like that, you don't expect them to play Saturday against Newcastle," said Slot of Frimpong's injury.

But when asked about a possible emergency loan signing, he was less emphatic.

"We as a club always make decisions, or we at least try to make smart decisions, so we not only look at the short-term, we also look at the long-term. Longer-term, that's why we sign young players as well, very good players, but young ones that can still develop.

"Now we can see this development with a few. And it always depends on, are there players available that we think can help us, and if they are, can we afford them?

"Our players come back from injury as well, and I just said that we don't have a squad where we have four right-backs and 12 midfielders and three or four number 9s, so we have to do smart things for the near future, but also for the longer future.

"Let's first see how Jeremie is, maybe he's not able to play Saturday, but maybe he's able to play one or two days later.

"And we now go into a schedule with one game a week, so that will usually mean less injuries, but we're never sure."

Image: Liverpool's Jeremie Frimpong goes off injured early in the first half Slot: I've played him too much

Slot did point out that "a muscle injury usually has to do with overloading a player" and he received some criticism for substituting Frimpong in the defeat at Bournemouth.

"Today has shown again that sometimes things are maybe a bit more complicated than people think, so Jeremie is a great example of that.

"I think I got a question from one of you sitting over there, 'Could you understand that fans were a bit annoyed that you took Jeremie Frimpong off at that moment?'

"Maybe these same fans should have a different opinion, because even with resting him he got injured, and I think he was sitting here the day before the game telling you all how big of a difference the Bundesliga is to the Premier League.

"So these are the things I have to take into account, and apparently I've played him too much recently for this to happen again. That's really sad for him, but definitely also for us, because our full-back is out for the whole season.

"But we will find a way again. As you saw today, the way is usually as attacking as possible, that's what we did today with players in positions you don't expect them."

Curtis Jones and Joe Gomez are alternative options at right-back, although both missed out against Qarabag. Slot hopes to have them back soon.

"Curtis was sick so we have to wait and see how it evolves. Joe might be tight, I am hoping and expecting to have him back, but I cannot guarantee this yet, but we're hoping that he will be back with us."

Story of the match in stats... What's next for Liverpool?

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Mohamed Salah scored his first Liverpool goal in nearly three months against Qarabag in the Champions League, and immediately made his feelings clear in front of the Kop

James Findlater Content Editor

21:21, 28 Jan 2026Updated 21:38, 28 Jan 2026

Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring for Liverpool against Qarabag(Image: Getty Images)

Mohamed Salah made his feelings on Liverpool abundantly clear as he ended his long goal drought for the club against Qarabag on Wednesday.

The Egyptian scored the Reds’ third of the night after Alexis Mac Allister and Florian Wirtz’s first-half goals in the Champions League encounter at Anfield. Salah converted a free-kick from the edge of the box following a lay-off from Dominik Szoboszlai for his first goal for Liverpool since November 1.

Having scored in front of the Kop, Salah celebrated by beating the Liverpool badge on his shirt, demonstrating his clear affection for the club and its fans despite his outburst last month.

READ MORE: Liverpool 5-0 Qarabag LIVE: Alexis Mac Allister bags a brace as Reds chase record haulREAD MORE: 'I'll be back' - Trent Alexander-Arnold has already confirmed Liverpool return plan

The 33-year-old put his future at Anfield in considerable doubt when he launched an extraordinary tirade in December, in which he accused the club of throwing him "under the bus" and claimed that someone inside Anfield was trying to drive him out.

Arne Slot looks to have repaired some bridges since then, with Salah having started every game since his return from the Africa Cup of Nations, although his performances have raised more questions about his future.

Salah does look set to stay put beyond the January transfer window though, and his celebration against Qarabag would suggest that he's still happy to play for the club.

Mohamed Salah was back among the goals against Qarabag

Even during his outburst last month, Salah made his love for Liverpool clear. "This club, I always support it," he said.

"My kids will always support it. I love the club so much; I will always do."

Slot spoke last week about how difficult he finds it to bench players after dropping Salah last month, with the Liverpool boss having now seemingly repaired his relationship with the winger to some degree.

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"I always find it uneasy if I leave a player out and even more a player that has meant a lot for this club," admitted the Reds boss.

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"You can work with a player for a long time and you have had success with them, but part of my job is making the decision that I think is the best for the team.

"But that is always an uneasy decision. Not only with Mo but every single player I leave out because of the work they put in. Their quality is enough to play, so it is always uneasy not to play players."

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Arne Slot has been coming under increasing pressure amid Liverpool's poor Premier League form, and Steven Gerrard has given his thoughts on the Reds' boss' position

James Findlater Content Editor

21:13, 28 Jan 2026

Steven Gerrard has given his thoughts on Arne Slot's position at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

Steven Gerrard feels some Liverpool fans “have had enough” of Arne Slot, but the Reds legend believes he retains the backing from inside Anfield.

Slot has come under increasing pressure amid what has been a poor season in the Premier League, despite the Reds going into the campaign as the defending champions and embarking on a huge spending spree in the summer transfer window.

Liverpool dropped out of the top four following defeat to Bournemouth at the weekend, and has picked up just four points from the last five league games, while winning just five of the last 18 league outings.

READ MORE: Liverpool 5-0 Qarabag LIVE: Alexis Mac Allister bags a brace as Reds chase record haulREAD MORE: 'I'll be back' - Trent Alexander-Arnold has already confirmed Liverpool return plan

Slot has not helped himself with his recent comments either, having seemingly downplayed last season’s title win by suggesting that the Reds were helped by being knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain - despite having already been 15 points clear at the top of the table by that point.

The Liverpool boss has seen the pressure being turned up on him recently following Xabi Alonso’s dismissal from Real Madrid. The former midfielder has been linked with a return to Anfield as manager, with Slot even having to field questions on the prospect of him being replaced by Alonso.

Arne Slot has come under increasing pressure at Liverpool(Image: Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

And Gerrard believes Slot is under pressure for his job, although he expects sporting director Richard Hughes and FSG chief Michael Edwards to continue backing him.

“I think he’s under pressure, for sure,” Gerrard told TNT Sports.

“I think there’s large sections of the Liverpool fans that are very frustrated, I think some have had enough.

“I think his pressure is more external - media and supporters that are not happy with the form Liverpool are in from a league point of view.

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“I think internally it’ll be different. I think Liverpool have got extremely strong owners, fantastic owners. I think they’d want to give the manager on the back of last season, and any manager for that point, as much support, and they’d want to be extremely strong for Arne Slot during this tough time, and try and give him the opportunity to get the team out of it and fix the issues that they’ve got.

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“I think also, knowing Richard Hughes a little bit and Michael Edwards a bit more, they would want to be strong and rally around the manager.

“I think that’s what Liverpool have done historically, they’re not really a club that makes a lot of changes, so I think the pressure’s more external than internal.”

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Fans posed for photos on the steps of St George's Hall this afternoon

Fans posed for photos on the steps of St George's Hall this afternoon

Arne Slot has caused a stir with his comments on Liverpool's title win last season, with club legend Steven Gerrard hitting back at the Reds' boss amid backlash from supporters

James Findlater Content Editor

20:37, 28 Jan 2026

Steven Gerrard has hit back at Arne Slot's comments(Image: Getty Images)

Steven Gerrard has admitted he can understand why Liverpool fans are frustrated with Arne Slot, calling his recent comments a “body blow” to supporters.

Slot caused controversy in the build-up to the Reds’ final league phase game in the Champions League against Qarabag, with the Liverpool boss having suggested that his side getting knocked out of Europe last season played a big part in the eventual Premier League title win.

“This is not going to be a popular opinion what I’m going to tell you now, but maybe the reason why we won the league last season is that we had to play Paris Saint-Germain in the last-16,” Slot said in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

READ MORE: Liverpool 5-0 Qarabag LIVE: Alexis Mac Allister bags a brace as Reds chase record haulREAD MORE: 'I'll be back' - Trent Alexander-Arnold has already confirmed Liverpool return plan

“As you know, they beat us, and we had every time a week to prepare for the next game. Maybe that has helped us as well, maybe if we had to double up that program, which Arsenal had, and they dropped a few points in that period of time, that has helped us in winning the league.”

Slot’s comments have not gone down well with supporters, not least because Liverpool had already been 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League by the time it is was knocked out by PSG last season.

With the Dutchman already coming under pressure for the Reds’ poor league form, club legend Gerrard feels Slot has done himself no favors.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot made some strange comments about his own side's title win(Image: Getty Images)

“Yeah, I can understand the fans being frustrated on the back of that interview,” Gerrard told TNT Sports.

“The simple reason is they were 15 points clear, in my opinion they had the league wrapped up by that point, and to sort of say that helped them is a body blow for the fans really.

“The fans have been on the journey, they've paid good money to follow the team in the Champions League games, so the frustration and the emotion when you go out of the Champions League, a player or a fan, it hurts. Joe and Ally will tell you, it really kills you.

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“So to say that went and helped you when you were already 15 points clear, you can understand the fans' frustrations.”

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Liverpool will be looking to the Champions League for some respite this season, with the Reds on course to qualify for the last-16 and avoid an extra play-off round.

“It's what the fans are holding onto at the moment,” Gerrard added.

“Of course it would be so important to fight for a top-four finish, but for the fans it's 'let's go for the FA Cup, let's go all the way in the Champions League.'”

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The ECHO has spoken to a number of Qarabag fans ahead of the club's Champions League match at Anfield

The ECHO has spoken to a number of Qarabag fans ahead of the club's Champions League match at Anfield

Liverpool finish the Champions League group phase with a home clash against Qarabag tonight, looking to seal a place in the last 16. We’re live to bring you the latest.

Tonight’s match blog is run by Henry Jackson, get involved by messaging in the comments below.

Liverpool vs. Qarabag Confirmed Lineups

Liverpool: Alisson; Frimpong, Gravenberch, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike

Substitutes: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Nallo, Kerkez, Endo, Nyoni, Morrison, Chiesa, Ngumoha

Qarabag: Kochalski; Silva, Mustafazade, Medina, Jafarguliyev; Bicalho, Jankovic; Andrade, Montiel, Zoubir; Duran

Substitutes: Ramazanov, Buntic, Mmaee, Kouakou, Akhundzade, Addai, Bolt, Kashchuk, Gurbanli, Bayramov, A.Huseynov, B.Huseynov

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Jeremie Frimpong has suffered his third injury of the season, picking up a groin problem just two minutes into Liverpool’s game against Qarabag.

Frimpong was clearly devastated as he went off in the second minute due to a groin issue, his third muscle injury of the season.

As he ran back towards his own goal at no great pace, he pulled up and hobbled towards the ball before going down.

As a result, Wataru Endo came on and replaced Frimpong at right-back, a position he hasn’t yet played this season.

At this early stage we don’t yet know how long Frimpong will be out, but an absence of a few weeks would be expected as a minimum for a pulled groin.

It is the second game in a row that the Endo has had to deputise in defence, after he replaced Joe Gomez at centre-half against Bournemouth.

Frimpong’s injury comes at a frustrating time for the Dutch international who has been one of Liverpool’s brightest players in recent weeks.

He has played at right-wing in the absence of Mo Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations and looked good once moved to right-back after Conor Bradley‘s injury.

Who will play at right-back for Liverpool?

The injuries to both Frimpong and Bradley could mean Endo will start more games on the right of the defence, with Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones and Calvin Ramsay the only real alternatives.

Szoboszlai has already played right-back regularly this season so is more used to the role than Jones, but the Hungarian’s absence from the midfield is noticeable when he is not there.

Another option could be for Liverpool to dip into the market for a versatile defender who can play at full-back.

However, with just a couple of days left of the window this seems unlikely, especially given Liverpool’s tendency not to buy to fix short-term problems.

Meanwhile, 22-year-old Ramsay has only started one senior match this season, against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup.

He looked good on that occasion, but Slot is clearly not too keen on starting the natural full-back, saying earlier in January: “When someone is really unlucky with the injuries that we’re having there is always a player that benefits from that, and Calvin is one of them.

“He’s with us, but I still think I have better options to play.”

Frimpong‘s injury extends Liverpool’s injury list which now comprises seven players from the first-team squad.

Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are out until the end of the season, while Alexander Isak likely won’t return until late March.

Gomez is out with a knee injury, plus Jayden Danns and Stefan Bajcetic are still recovering from hamstring injuries which should see them back in February.

Jones missed the clash with Qarabag due to illness while Ibrahima Konate remains on compassionate leave.

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