The Opta Supercomputer predicts Arsenal will top the Champions League league phase, with Manchester City and Liverpool also securing top-eight finishes and automatic last-16 qualification. However, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Newcastle are projected to land in the seeded positions 11th, 13th, and 14th, respectively, sending them into the new two-legged knockout play-offs.

This new format means the sides finishing ninth through 24th must battle in a play-off round to reach the knockout stages. Crucially, the seeded teams (9th-16th) cannot face each other, so the three English clubs would avoid a domestic clash in the play-off draw on January 30.

With two matchdays remaining, the final standings will determine the play-off matchups. The winners advance to face the top-eight seeds in the round of 16, where the path to the final in Budapest on May 30, 2026, becomes clearer. The pressure is on for the chasing English clubs to secure a seeded spot.