Celtic join Manchester City in learning their play-off round fate – while like Arsenal and Liverpool, Aston Villa need only sit back and wait for the last-16 draw

The real Champions League play-off draw is set for around 11 am on Friday in the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland

The Champions League knockout phase play-off draw has been made with Manchester City learning their nightmare opponents while Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa have a route to the final mapped out

The draw for the Champions League playoffs sees sides who finished between ninth and 24th go head-to-head, while they have also be given their positions in the bracket

In each of the past four Premier League campaigns, Arsenal have recorded more points than the season before: from a nadir of 56 points (eighth) after Arteta took over midway through the 2019-20, to 61 points (eighth), to 69 points (fifth), to 84 points (second) to 89 points (second) last season, just two points behind champions Manchester City.

Arsenal have made it clear that Kieran Tierney will remain at the Emirates until the summer despite Celtic’s hopes of securing a loan move for the full-back ahead of his permanent return. According to The Telegraph,

While eight clubs have already booked their place in the Champions League's round of 16, another 16 - including some of the competition's biggest hitters - face a play-off round

Elsewhere, third-placed Nottingham Forest host Brighton, hoping to bounce back from last week’s 5-0 thrashing at Bournemouth, while Tottenham look to halt their alarming slide at Brentford

Arsenal were actually offered the chance to sign Ollie Watkins for £60m before making a £40m bid for the player.

Top of the Champions League table and into the last 16 with the most money banked. This was the perfect return to Europe’s elite competition for Liverpool, setting up Arne Slot’s side for a crack at lifting the trophy for a seventh time and significantly boosting the club’s balance sheet.

The Champions League knockout phase play-off draw has been made with Manchester City learning their nightmare opponents while Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa have their route to the final mapped ou

Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa straight through to Champions League last 16; Man City and Celtic face play-off with Pep Guardiola setting up potential return to former club Bayern Munich; play-off