Liverpool vs Qarabag live: Reds secure Champions League knockout spot but Newcastle enter play-offs

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, speaking to TNT after their win:

"We skip two (play-off) games, which is important in a long season like this one. We were too open in the first half but we were much better in the second half and got the goals.

"I like getting in the box. Maybe some people will say I'm not that good when I get there. I'm still really angry with myself because it was a really good cross from Mo and it was a good chance to score the first hat-trick of my career.

"We know that in the Champions League, we've been better than the Premier League. We need to see the positives but need to think about the next one.

"We're going to have some feedback and review the game. See the positives and the negatives because that's how you improve,” he added.

Finally, here’s what Arne Slot had to say to TNT after his side’s win:

“Great result and a good performance. Unfortunately it took another player, when I said two days ago that we won the league, maybe that it helped us that we went out...

“I didn’t mean that, we were by far the best team in the league last season, but what I meant was that when we weren’t constantly 15 points ahead, there were times when we were seven, eight points ahead, and if this team had had the same injuries that this team is having [now], then no one would knows what the result would have been.

“This season unfortunately we’ve been very unlucky with injuries, because they haven’t been muscle injuries, but tonight again shows a double programme with players who are not used to that, and that can cause you injuries. That’s the downside.

“He will be out for a period of time, because if you have a moment like that and you have to go off straight away, that usually tells you what you need to know. We have to wait and see, there’s only a few days to go, so let’s wait and see what the upcoming days can bring,” he added.

The League Phase of the 2025-26 Champions League has drawn to a close after a dramatic league-phase finale.

The next 16 teams will enter the knockout phase’s play-off draw, with the top eight sides permitted a bye into the last 16.

That valuable rest, in a packed schedule, could prove decisive in the hunt for silverware.

Though Paris Saint-Germain proved it is not obstacle to winning Europe’s most coveted club trophy, dismantling Brest in the play-offs before a famous run to last year’s final and a thumping win over Inter Milan to clinch European glory.

Here’s everything we know about the Champions League knockout stage’s play-off draw:

Here’s Benfica boss Jose Mourinho after that sensational last-minute goal to take his side through:

"Winning or losing games in the final moment, with the final play, has happened various times, but to win you need to take risks. You think it arrives but then it doesn't, so then you have to change a few things. In the end one ball [for them] could make it 3-3. And with that we would still be out. To win against Real Madrid carries importance and is significant. In that moment we had to give it everything."

On Trubin's goal: "We knew he could do it. In the game at the Dragao [two weeks ago],Trubin was also there in the final action and headed it but a Porto player blocked it. You have to put the ball in there. It was a spectacular goal that independent of our future in the competition, puts us into the next round, and was a moment of history against Real Madrid. It is important for a few reasons, economically important for Benfica, and even more so from a prestige point of view.

"Clearly when the free-kick was given I told Trubin to go forward and told Dahl to go on the halfway line in case they won back the ball so we could try to defend. Them going from 11 men to ten, it was still important to guard the back because winning will always be the most important. But the action arrived and we made more history at the Estadio da Luz,” he added.

Here’s that goal from Trubin!

Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored an astonishing 98th-minute header as Benfica beat Real Madrid 4-2 on Wednesday to keep themselves in the Champions League and deny their illustrious opponents an automatic spot in the last 16.

In an extraordinary finale, the Portuguese side were heading out despite leading 3-2 with seconds of stoppage time remaining before Trubin came forward for a free kick to score the goal needed to sneak into the playoff round on goal difference.

That sparked wild celebrations from Benfica players, fans and their charismatic coach Jose Mourinho - a former manager of Real Madrid - at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon.

Here’s what Man City boss Pep Guardiola had to say after their win:

“I feel good. It was the first target, we had many chances to score more goals, we could not do that, but really pleased to be eighth, players will come back, and we’ll try and improve.

“The first half was much better than the second, the second we had more chances, but we were not at our best.”

On Doku’s injury, he says: “He’s a big miss, such an important player for so many reasons, but we’ll see.

“I’m happy for him, fantastic goal,” he adds on Erling Haaland.

Some of the cheers came several minutes after the Manchester Cityplayers had left the pitch. The stands were emptying but the stragglers celebrated a Benfica goal. A fourth of the night against Real Madrid: sealing City’s place in the top eight. City had done their bit, but they ended up reliant on Benfica, Pep Guardiola grateful to his old enemy Jose Mourinho.

City had kicked off in 11th and climbed as high as fifth at one stage in the night. But they slipped down the standings. When Sporting CP got a late winner against Athletic Bilbao, City dropped to eighth, just the right side of the dotted line, waiting for injury time in the Estadio da Luz. Two Real red cards later, City had got into the last 16. They had done it the unorthodox way: victorious in the Bernabeu, losing in the Arctic Circle but beating Real ultimately had more significance than losing to Bodo/Glimt.

Here’s Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope, speaking to TNT Sports:

"We knew we needed to win the game, that was evident coming into it. We did really well to stay in the game and had a couple of chances at the end there, but a really good performance.

"Another handball. When he goes to the screen you think it's going to happen. I was thankful to save this one. After that we looked really solid. Hopefully we won't have many more of them."

On saving the penalty: "It's not bad. I remember watching Alisson here last year and he had an unbelievable game. A little inspiration from him I think.

"This is a really good step in the right direction, I'm really pleased with that.

"There are things to work on. We came to this competition two years ago and didn't get to this stage. This is really exciting for us,” he added.