Can Man City avoid embarrassing shock, Liverpool's Dutch connection and will Ruben Amorim's hard work be undone... SIX talking points ahead of the final round of Champions League League Phase action

Grab the snacks, relax on the sofa and get yourself prepared for an unprecedented night of European action.

The Champions League League Phase concludes this evening and there are 18 games to tuck in to.

The new 36-team format for Europe's elite club competition caused consternation among many when it was launched, but there have been few nights in recent history with as much jeopardy riding on them as tonight.

27 teams are still in contention for the 24 places in the knockout stages, where the top eight sides will automatically reach the last-16, while those from ninth to 24th will play a two-legged play-off clash next month.

The higher a side finishes, the more prize money they receive, adding even more pressure, while the likes of PSG and Man City are still at risk of crashing out.

In light of the blockbuster night of action ahead, Mail Sport takes a look at some of the talking points ahead of the final round of fixtures.

The Champions League League Phase concludes this evening with 18 fixtures all at once

Liverpool are one of only two teams who have automatically qualified for the last-16 stage

The new Champions League format has split opinion, but there promises to be much drama

Can Man City make it?

When Manchester City fans walked away from the Etihad following their 5-0 thumping of Sparta Prague in October, barely an eyebrow was raised.

For this was a European superpower and the 2022 Champions League winners cruising through yet another group stage of the competition, having scored nine goals without reply across three games.

Yet, a remarkable collapse in form, which has seen Pep Guardiola's side lose three of their next four games in Europe, leaves their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages at severe risk.

Such a scenario was unthinkable just a few months ago, but City must beat Club Brugge tonight if they are to avoid the most embarassing of exits.

City have improved over recent weeks and remain overwhelming favourites, but Brugge sit five places above them in the table and have beaten Aston Villa and Sporting Lisbon this season, while they also drew with Juventus.

Guardiola's side have their fate in their own hands and you would back them to do the job, yet it could prove to be a nervy night at the Etihad if the Belgian side can frustrate them early on.

Manchester City must beat Club Brugge tonight if they are to progress to the play-off round

Pep Guardiola's side have lost three of their last four Champions League games amid a dire run

Liverpool's Dutch connection

Liverpool are one of two teams to have automatically qualified for the last-16 stage after an imperious European campaign that has seen them win all seven games and concede just two goals.

Arne Slot's side travel to PSV tonight as the Reds boss returns to the Netherlands for the first time since leaving Feyenoord in the summer.

Liverpool will be without 12 regular first teamers as Slot looks to manage his squad, with an extremely youthful look to their travelling party.

One star that will be involved however is Cody Gakpo, and it promises to be an emotional return to his former club for the forward.

Gakpo joined the PSV youth academy at the age of eight and went onto play 159 times for the Dutch side before joining Liverpool in January 2023.

The 25-year-old admitted it will be 'pretty strange' walking out as part of the away team but added that it will be 'a special moment'.

And, given the form Gakpo is in right now, you wouldn't put it past him showing his hometown club just what a great player they have produced.

Arne Slot and Cody Gakpo return to the Netherlands as Liverpool travel to take on PSV

Gakpo made his name at PSV after coming through the youth ranks, playing 159 times

Will Emery be made to rue slip-ups?

Aston Villa have enjoyed some special nights on what is their first season back in Europe's elite club competition since triumphing in 1982-83.

Unai Emery's side secured memorable wins against Bayern Munich, Bologna and RB Leipzig, while they also drew with Italian giants Juventus, but they may still face the play-off round despite starting the campaign with three successive victories.

That would be a huge blow for Emery's squad, who are already stretched to the limit amid a slew of defensive injuries, but they haven't made things easy for themselves.

A 1-0 defeat by Club Brugge came after Tyrone Mings inadvertently picked up the ball inside his area to concede a penalty after not realising the game was in play, while Emery admitted it was a 'mistake' to pair Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins together in their loss at Monaco.

A home clash against Celtic is a favourable fixture for Villa to progress, and if they can scrape into the top eight and avoid an extra two games next month, that could prove to be wholly beneficial for Emery's side heading into the rest of the season.

For himself and Villa's sake, the Spaniard will hope they aren't made to rue those slip-ups along the way.

Aston Villa will be desperate to finish in the top eight after starting their campaign so well

A loss at Club Brugge came after Tyrone Mings inadvertently picked up the ball inside the area

An unprecedented spectacle

The new Champions League format has split opinion, but the mouthwatering prospect of 18 games taking place concurrently is unlikely to be criticised by many.

With all the final fixtures kicking off at 8PM on Wednesday, the drama and constant changing of the table promises to be enthralling, with only two matches having nothing riding on them.

Only Liverpool and Barcelona are guaranteed to automatically reach the last-16 stage, while just nine of the 36 sides are definitely out.

Coupled with that, the likes of PSG and Man City are at risk of elimination, while just three points separate third place Arsenal and Brest, who sit 13th.

Elsewhere, Bayer Leverkusen, who currently sit in the final automatic qualification place on 13 points, are also three clear of Stuttgart, who languish in 24th place, which is the final spot for the teams that will reach the play-offs.

French minnows Brest, alongside Monaco, Feyenoord and Lille are guaranteed to at least reach the play-off round, and there is a chance that the likes of Shakhtar Donetsk, Dinamo Zagreb, Stuttgart, PSV and Club Brugge could join them in what would be a strong showing of the wider quality of European football.

Alongside Manchester City, PSG's path to the knockout stages is far from guaranteed

Elsewhere, the likes of minnows Brest have highlighted the wider quality of European football

Will Amorim's hard work be undone?

When Ruben Amorim said goodbye to Sporting Lisbon, he did so after a spectacular week that included a 4-1 humbling of Manchester City.

The Portuguese outfit were flying high, unbeaten in Europe and all but certain of qualifying for the knockout stages.

But, after what has proven to be a disastrous two-and-a-half months - which saw Amorim's replacement Joao Pereira sacked on Christmas Day after just eight games in charge - Sporting's hopes are hanging by a thread.

A 5-1 defeat by Arsenal was followed by demoralising losses by Club Brugge and RB Leipzig.

Things have picked up since Rui Borges came in and a home game against Bologna, who are already eliminated, is favourable.

Yet, things are a lot different from Amorim's magical final game at the Jose Alvalade Stadium on that balmy November night.

When Ruben Amorim left Sporting in November, the Portuguese side were on fire in Europe

Since then, Sporting have lost three successive games, including a 5-1 thrashing by Arsenal

All eyes on CBS

Despite the fact it's not available to watch in the UK, CBS Sports' coverage of the Champions League continues to be widely acclaimed.

The American show has gained plaudits for its informed and hilarious coverage of Europe's elite club competition over recent years, with Micah Richards, Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher all receiving significant praise, alongside host Kate Abdo.

Whether it be Richards' hilarious, if slightly immature inability to speak about French side Brest, or the general teasing between the quartet, time-and-time again they've left us in stitches when seeing the latest viral clip on social media.

But, alongside the entertaining watch that is has proven to be, the pundits are also able to provide a unique insight to the game.

And, with plenty of on and off-field drama likely to happen tonight, keep your eyes peeled across social media for clips circulating from their coverage.

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