Liverpool handed boost as Man City face Champions League nightmare

Liverpool handed Premier League boost as Man City face Champions League nightmare

Manchester City make have kept their Champions League campaign alive but what comes next could be problematic

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Liverpool have been handed a potential Premier League boost after the Champions League league phase came to an end. The Reds had already qualified for the round-of-16 with a game to spare, courtesy of winning their first seven matches.

Arne Slot’s men lost 3-2 away at PSV Eindhoven in their final league match to lose their 100% winning record, but still finished top of the table after Barcelona drew 2-2 at home to Atalanta.

While Liverpool have found the Champions League league phase relatively straightforward, it has been a different story for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City. The reigning Premier League champions could only hope for an unseeded place in the knockout phase play-offs heading into the final round of fixtures.

City were actually facing elimination altogether at half-time in their final league game, as they trailed 1-0 at home to Club Brugge. However, goals from Mateo Kovacic, Savinho and a Joel Ordonez own goal saw them claim a 3-1 victory.

That win saw City finish 22nd in the league phase. In doing so, they face a nightmare draw in the knockout phase play-offs.

City will be drawn against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, after the two European giants finished 11th and 12th to be seeded for the knockout phase play-offs draw.

Guardiola’s side will find out their opponents when the draw takes place on January 31, and will be at home for the first leg on February 11-12.

They will then travel to the Bernabeu or Allianz Arena for the second leg on February 18-19 - with such a tie coming only days before they host Liverpool at the Etihad on February 23.

The Reds haven’t won at the Etihad since beating City 2-1 in the Champions League quarter-finals back in April 2018, while their last Premier League victory at their domestic rivals came when they ran out 4-1 victors in November 2015.

But with City facing a mouth-watering decisive Champions League away trip against one of Europe's biggest names just days before locking horns with Liverpool, Slot’s side - who will enjoy a free midweek themselves - have been handed a potential advantage ahead of facing Guardiola’s men next month.

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