Wednesday's best bits
Alongside Champions League build-up, there has been other football news throughout the day and here are some of the headlines:
Marcus Rashford in Manchester United training
Dejan Kulusevski says Ange Postecoglou is the "right man for the job"
Postecoglou says Mickey van de Ven is available
There will be coverage from tonight's Champions League action on the BBC website and BBC Radio 5 Live so make sure you stay tuned for all the updates. We will be back tomorrow with Champions League highlights and build-up to Europa League action.
Until then, have a good evening.
Recap: Champions League build-up and permutations
There is going to be a lot of action in the Champions League this evening with 18 games kicking off at the same time. It promises to be a dramatic and chaotic night, especially knowing who needs what to progress.
So here is a reminder of everything you need to know:
Permutations: What does each club need to progress?
Man City under pressure
Real Madrid bouncing back
As it stands
So, here's how things stand in the Champions League table.
The teams who finish in the top eight automatically progress to the last 16, where they will be seeded.
They will await the winners of eight two-legged knockout play-off ties featuring the clubs ranked from ninth to 24th.
Those finishing between ninth and 16th will be seeded and face a team placed 17th to 24th, with the advantage of playing the second leg at home.
The clubs 25th or lower are eliminated and do not gain entry to the Europa League.
The play-off ties take place mid-February, with the last-16 matches in the first two weeks of March.
Man Utd closing in on Dorgu deal
Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter
Manchester United are close to completing a deal for Lecce full-back Patrick Dorgu.
United had one bid for the Denmark international turned down last week but have remained in negotiations for the 20-year-old and believe it is a matter of time before he is cleared to have a medical.
It is not known whether Dorguâs arrival would force United to sell one of their established stars before 30 June in order to comply with the Premier Leagueâs Profit and Sustainability rules.
Head coach Ruben Amorim has been keen to address a problem on the left side of the pitch.
While Luke Shaw was training on Wednesday morning as United prepared for their Europa League encounter with Romanian side FCSB in Bucharest, the England international has made just three substitute appearances for his club in almost 12 months as there is a doubt over whether, long-term, he could fill the wing-back role without risking injury.
Dutch international Tyrell Malacia has also played in that position after his recovery from a long-term knee injury that required two operations. However, Amorim has kept faith with Diogo Dalot as his first choice in the role, even though the Portugal international is right footed.
Dorgu joined Lecce as a youth player in 2022. He made his international debut in a Nations League game against Switzerland in September.
Champions League showdown - who needs what?
Now for the nitty gritty.
All 18 Champions League matches take place at 20:00 GMT on Wednesday, with 16 matches having something on the line.
The 'as it stands' table will be constantly updating with teams' hopes potentially relying on other results.
It marks the first season of the new format, compared with the old four-team groups with two going through - where sometimes there was nothing to play for by the end.
Liverpool have already guaranteed their place in the top eight but six more places are up for grabs.
Aston Villa are guaranteed at least a play-off place. If they beat Celtic at home, that would give them a good chance of finishing in the top eight, though they would need one of five teams above them to slip up.
Arsenal are all but in the last 16 as they sit three points clear of the play-offs with a much better goal difference than any team on 13 points.
Celtic are only one point behind Villa so could conceivably finish in the top eight, but they would need to win and for a lot of things to happen above them.
Manchester City have a very simple permutation. If they beat Club Brugge at home they will go into the play-off round. If they fail to win they will be eliminated. They cannot reach the last 16 automatically.
Man Utd still have work to do on stadium mission
Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter
The direction of travel around a new stadium for Manchester United is definitely forward.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves spoke about it in her speech this morning when she confirmed the Government would be backing the wider regeneration project in the Trafford area.
"The government is also backing Andy Burnhamâs (mayor of Greater Manchester) plans for the redevelopment of Old Trafford, which promises to create new housing and commercial developments around a new stadium to drive regeneration and growth in the area," she said.
But United still need to acquire the land from Freightliner to build a new stadium close to Old Trafford.
If that doesn't happen, it will be a rebuild of the present one.
'It's going to be a hectic game'
Man City v Brugge (20:00 GMT)
Manchester City fan Amos Murphy told the Football News Show about the potential of the club crashing out of the Champions League at the group stage: "I donât think itâs acceptable or I donât think Pep Guardiola will find it acceptable to be going out at this stage of the competition. Itâs going to be a hectic game.
"Brugge know that they donât have to necessarily go at City, but because of their limitations in defence they might fancy nicking a goal, lesser teams have done so at the Etihad this season and Brugge definitely have threats.
Itâs going to be a night where Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, the players that have done it before, are going to have to step up and drag City over the line.ââ
âWhen you look at Cityâs 11 they have more than enough quality, itâs just those external factors that have hampered City throughout the season.
The first 60 minutes could be fantastic, but itâs the last half an hour that City have faded in games and the opposition have picked them off that would be the issue. In a game youâve got to win that a major red flag. The game management is going to have to improve massively. The players have got the muscle memory and youâd back those senior players in a one off game like this to get City over the line.ââ
Watch the full programme here.
Beware De Bruyne
Man City v Club Brugge (Wed, 20:00 GMT)
Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter
Kevin de Bruyne is one of the Manchester City players who have struggled to reach their highest levels this season.
The 33-year-old is out of contract in the summer and it is not clear whether the Belgian will agree an extension.
Club Brugge goalkeeper and De Bruyne's Belgium international colleague Simon Mignolet has cautioned against feeling the playmaker cannot do his side damage.
"We all know Kevin," he said. "It's clear he's got a lot of qualities and that he can change the game with one pass.
"On his day, he is the best midfielder in the world and we have to be careful with him.
"We know how good Manchester City are, they have extraordinary players and Kevin is one of those."
Brighton willing to sell Ferguson for right offer
Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter
Brighton would be willing to sell striker Evan Ferguson if they receive the right offer before the transfer window closes.
Ferguson is currently sidelined with an ankle injury but has not been a significant part of Fabian Hurzelerâs squad even when he has been fit.
The Republic of Ireland international has made 12 Premier League appearances this term but 10 of those have come off the substitutesâ bench.
His single goal came in the home draw with Wolves on 26 October. That was his only strike since November 2023 as the form that shot him to prominence in the 2022-23 campaign and saw him nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award deserted him.
It has been known Brighton were looking at loan options for Ferguson. However, sources with an understanding of the situation have said a sale would be considered and one offer, said to be from within the Premier League, has already been turned down.
Numerous English clubs, including Arsenal and West Ham, are looking for a central striker, while German outfit Bayer Leverkusen have also been mentioned in connection with the 20-year-old.
How 'another level' Van Dijk 'surprised' Reds boss Slot
Liverpool
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk's quality has surprised Reds manager Arne Slot, who says the defender is on "another level".
Van Dijk, 33, is in the last six months of his contract and made his 300th appearance for the Reds in Saturday's 4-1 win over Ipswich Town.
"Everybody here in England would tell you that Virgil van Dijk is the best defender in the world," said Slot, speaking to Gary Lineker in an interview for Football Focus.
"In Holland, he got a bit more criticism than he gets over here in England. I was, in a very positive way, surprised how good he was on the ball and how he could play football through the lines.
"From the first day I was like 'wow, this is definitely another level that I'm used to'. But people in England were used to this."
'Liverpool should always be competing for the Champions League'
Liverpool
Arne Slot, 46, became Liverpool manager last summer, replacing Jurgen Klopp, and the Reds currently sit six points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand.
Liverpool are also top of the Champions League table - and into the last 16 with a match to spare following seven successive victories - and play Dutch side PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday in their final league-phase match.
Slot admitted the season was going even better than he had expected.
"You don't think after 20 games we will have that many points and I wasn't expecting us to be top with the margin we have," he added.
"It's always nice to be up there, but nobody would have expected this. I'm the last person who would have expected [reigning champions Manchester] City to have such a bad run."
How 'another level' Van Dijk 'surprised' Reds boss Slot
'It is not in my control'
Tottenham v Elfsborg (Thurs, 20:00 GMT)
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham midfielder Dejan Kulusevski on whether he is surprised more players have not been brought in during the transfer window: "You are asking the wrong guy. I am playing, I am doing everything I can for the possibilities. It is not in my control."
On the fan song that expresses love for him but not chairman Dan Levy: "I am just playing. If they see what I give and if they appreciate, it's even better."
'I still see the opportunities'
Tottenham v Elfsborg (Thurs, 20:00 GMT)
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham midfielder Dejan Kulusevski on if this is the most he has had to suffer in his career: "It is not suffering. I tell you in the league, losing that many games that is suffering. It's very hard on me losing games. But I still have to see the bigger picture, I think we can do amazing things because we are left in three cups and that is where my focus is.
"It's a balance. It is suffering but at the same time I am still positive. I still see the opportunities."
'Postecoglou is the right man'
Tottenham v Elfsborg (Thurs, 20:00 GMT)
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham midfielder Dejan Kulusevski added on why Ange Postecoglou is still the right manager for the club: "We had games where we showed perfect football, football that not many teams can play. We played beautiful games against [Manchester] United, City away 4-0. I think he is the right man. We want to win for him... I have to fight for him because I believe in that football too. I think he is the right man."
And on how hard it is to keep faith: "Opinions change, I don't listen to anyone. I know the truth, I see the truth from my side. It's not important what people say, it never has been actually. League is very bad and the game on Sunday was tough to lose. You have to stay clear minded and focus on the goals."
