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Liverpool are looking to guarantee their spot in the last 16 of the Champions League by beating Qarabag at Anfield tomorrow night. The Reds currently occupy fourth spot in the table with 15 points. Their goal difference means they are unlikely to climb any higher than third, with second-placed Bayern Munich, on 18 points, boasting a +13 goal difference compared to Liverpool's +6. And just three points separate third and 15th, meaning there Arne Slot's side could easily still finish outside of the top eight.

While the Premier League champions are winless in the league in 2026, they beat Marseille in Europe last week. And they will be heavily fancied to beat Qarabag, who sit 18th in the table, to secure their spot in the knockouts and avoid a two-legged playoff match. Should they manage to cling on to fourth spot, or even finish third, then the Reds know they will face one of four teams: either 13th place, 14th place, 19th place or 20th place.

As it stands, Atalanta are 13th and Inter Milan 14th. If the playoffs were conducted based on the current table, the two Italian teams would be pitted against Marseille (19th) or Bayer Leverkusen (20th), respectively.

Liverpool would then face the winner of one of those ties, depending on which half of the draw they go into. Inter would be the most dangerous opponent, even though the Reds beat them 1-0 at the San Siro in December. That was only courtesy of an 88th-minute Dominik Szoboszlai penalty.

Inter sit top of Serie A and have reached two of the last three Champions League finals so are not to be underestimated over two legs. But having lost to Liverpool, as well as Arsenal, Slot and co. would still be hopeful of dumping the Italians out.

Based on the current table, the quarter-finals could then throw up a heavyweight clash against one of Tottenham (5th), PSG (6th), Manchester City (11th) or Atletico Madrid (12th). Monaco (21st) and PSV (22nd) are also possible opponents but would be huge outsiders against any of the four aforementioned sides.

A rematch with holders PSG, who outclassed Liverpool last season despite only winning the tie on penalties at Anfield, would be the scariest current possibility for the six-time European Cup winners. But a two-legged tie with domestic rivals City would also be a very difficult prospect in April.

The draw for the round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals takes place on February 27. That means Liverpool will not know which half of the draw they are in until then. They will fall on either the same side as first place - currently Arsenal - or second, which is Bayern Munich at present.

Either of those teams would undoubtedly pose the most fearsome semi-final opponent. Liverpool have won and drawn against Arsenal this season but there is no doubting the Premier League leaders' quality and how cagey they would make it in the final four, having conceded just two goals in seven games in Europe and 17 goals in 23 league games.

And Bayern, who have former Liverpool winger Luis Diaz and England captain Harry Kane, could blow the Merseyside team away. The Bavarians are the joint-top scorers in the Champions League with 20 goals scored and have also plundered 72 goals in just 19 Bundesliga matches as they saunter towards another title.

They are not the only potential semi-final opponents with Barcelona or Chelsea among the other tricky teams who could await. But having to face Inter, PSG and Arsenal would certainly be among the most difficult possible paths to Budapest if Liverpool want to be there on May 30.