Alexis Mac Allister's verdict on Real Madrid win speaks volumes about Champions League format

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Mirror or go back to LFC Live.

Liverpool finished top of last season's first-phase standings but were then drawn to face Paris St Germain in the round of 16 and were eliminated by the eventual championsIn many ways, it was another memorable European night at Anfield. In an ideal world, they would want to finish in the top eight and avoid that two-legged play-off game in February but it is not the end of the world if they do not.Liverpool finished top of the standings last season but then copped for Paris St Germain in the round of 16 and went out.

Slot and Liverpool pretty much went full tilt for all but the final game of the eight-match preliminaries last season but this time around, the manager might have a rethink.A win against PSV at Anfield towards the end of this month would give Liverpool 12 points from five matches and all but certain to at least be in the knockout phase play-offs. That might tempt Slot to rest a few key players over the remaining three Champions League qualifiers.Again, finishing in the top eight and getting an automatic spot in the round of 16 would seem to be the best situation but of the teams that finished in those positions last season, four were eliminated in their next tie.

It will be a balancing act for Slot and the head coaches of Europe’s elite clubs, who will all avoid elimination after this ‘Swiss model’ stage.But they will have learned from last season. The experience last season?