Here's the state of play after the conclusion of the first stage of the Champions League: Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, Aston Villa. Monaco or Brest vs. Paris Saint-Germain or Benfica (for the right to play Liverpool or Barcelona)

As they surpassed the defensive efforts of any of their European Cup-winning teams, they booked a place in the last 16 of the new-look Champions League. It took an improbable comeback by Barcelona against Benfica to mean they still need another point to become the inaugural winners of the 36-team group stage.

LONDON — Here's the state of play after the conclusion of the first stage of the Champions League: Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, Aston Villa

Those finishing in the top eight automatically progress to the last 16, where they will be seeded. They will await the winners of eight two-legged knockout play-off ties featuring the clubs ranked from ninth to 24th.

Liverpool became the first team to guarantee a place in the last 16 of the new Champions League format by beating Lille 2-1 on Tuesday, while Barcelona fought back from two goals down to stun Benfica 5-4 in a thriller.

The Premier League leaders, spearheaded by Mohamed Salah, have won their six opening UCL games, taking them to the brink of qualification.

Barcelona’s spectacular fightback against Benfica meant Liverpool would have to wait another week to be confirmed winner of the league phase of the new look Champions League.

An East Liverpool man was served this week with a secret indictment for obstructing justice for allegedly lying to investigators related to the 2021 shooting death of Brycen Douglas. Travis Kidder, 25,

A SUPERCOMPUTER has sensationally predicted the winners of this season’s Champions League. And it’s NOT the most in-form team of the tournament, which has just wrapped up its revamped

THE new-look Champions League group stage has finally been completed, with 24 teams now preparing to learn their fate in the competition. Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Barcelona were among

Liverpool may have missed out on perfection but Arne Slot's side still topped the Champions League league phase table. Having won their opening seven games, defeat by PSV Eindhoven prevented the Reds from becoming the competition's 14th team to win all of their group-stage games in a season.

Mail Sport explains how the Champions League knock-out stage is set to shape up ahead of the draw taking place on Friday at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.