Liverpool is assured of a place in next season's Champions League, with Tottenham's defeat to Chelsea last night guaranteeing a top-four finish.

Things will be very different on the Reds' return to Europe's top table.

Having had to make do with a spot in the Europa League this season, Liverpool will be back in the Champions League next season, albeit without Jürgen Klopp in charge as he prepares for his final three games.



Arne Slot looks set to lead the Reds' quest for a seventh European crown, although he'll face a much-changed format.

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The number of teams competing is set to rise from 32 to 36, where there will be eight group stage games, as all of the teams battle in one big league table.

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To decide the fixtures in the group stage, there will be four pots of nine teams.

Similar changes are also expected to occur in both the Europa League and Europa Conference League.

But there does seem to be something inherently flawed about using a league table when teams are not all playing one another — unalike results are being compared as though they were alike.

An original version of this article was first published on March 13.
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