football

Champions League permutations: Who could Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Celtic and Man City play in knockout stages?

The Champions League group stages are over and we've got a much better idea of who will play who in the knockout stages. Who will the English sides and Celtic face?

Pep Guardiola faces a potential return to Bayern Munich in the play-offs after his Manchester City side beat Club Brugge to continue their Champions League campaign.

But City will face a tough test to reach the last 16 with City and Celtic facing either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid for a chance to play Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen after that in the last 16.

"Real Madrid or Bayern Munich - one is the king of the competition, the other one is maybe the second or third king of the competition," Guardiola said after City's potential opponents were revealed.

Aston Villa snuck into the top eight by the skin of their teeth after Atalanta failed to beat Barcelona and dropped into the play-offs, meaning Unai Emery's side will face one of Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting or Club Brugge in the last 16.

Arsenal and Liverpool already knew their automatic progression was secured.

Liverpool top the overall table and will now face one of Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, Monaco or Brest.

Arsenal could face one of two Serie A giants with AC Milan, PSV, Feyenoord or Juventus their possible last-16 opponents.

Round of 16: vs PSG (15th), Benfica (16th), Monaco (17th) or Brest (18th).

Round of 16: vs AC Milan (13th), PSV (14th), Feyenoord (19th) or Juventus (20th).

Round of 16: vs Atalanta (9th), Borussia Dortmund (10th), Sporting (23rd) or Club Brugge (24th).

Knockout playoffs: vs Bayern Munich (11th) or Real Madrid (12th).

Round of 16: vs Atletico Madrid (5th) or Bayer Leverkusen (6th).

Knockout playoffs: vs Bayern Munich (11th) or Real Madrid (12th).

Round of 16: vs Atletico Madrid (5th) or Bayer Leverkusen (6th).

We won't know the exact format of the tournament beyond the play-offs until February, when the last-16 draw is held.

But, there is a chance there could be two all-British quarter-finals.

After finishing first and eighth, should Liverpool and Aston Villa win their last-16 games they may well end up facing one another in the last eight.

Likewise one of Celtic and Manchester City will set up a potential quarter-final with Arsenal if they win their play-offs and then beat Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen.

Confirmed in round of 16

Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, Aston Villa.

Confirmed in knockout phase play-offs

Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, AC Milan, PSV, PSG, Benfica, Monaco, Brest, Feyenoord, Juventus, Celtic, Man City, Sporting, Club Brugge.

Eliminated

Dinamo Zagreb, Stuttgart, Shakhtar Donetsk, Bologna, Crvena Zvezda, Sturm Graz, Sparta Prague, RB Leipzig, Girona, RB Salzburg, Slovan Bratislava, Young Boys.