It's a kinder format that leaves plenty to be decided on the final day. Smaller clubs will unquestionably advance to the direct elimination stages of the competition, where the stakes and pressure are higher. Upsets in the playoff round are likely to happen, with plenty of Davids getting a chance to dispatch any struggling Goliaths.

Real Madrid are the team that Liverpool have lost most often against in European competition (7). Indeed, among sides they’ve faced 5+ times in Europe, they’re also the opponent they have lost the highest percentage of their games against (64% - seven losses in 11 games).

Football writer Alex Keble analyses Tuesday's UEFA Champions League matches for Premier League clubs. It was all going so smoothly. Manchester City were 3-0 up with just a quarter of an hour remaining and order, surely, had been restored at the Etihad Stadium.

The league phase of the Uefa Champions League has reached its midway point and the first round of matches in second half concludes on 27 November. Catch all the action live on SuperSport (channel 199).