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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.

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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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