BBC Sport's Nedum Onuoha travels to Bergamo meet Atalanta's Ademola Lookman and discuss the impact that his move to Italy is having on his life and career.

Real Madrid

Carlo Ancelotti suggested that Vinicius Jr could make his Real Madrid comeback for his team's key Champions League fixture at in form Atalanta.

The Brazil forward was expected to be out until the Intercontinental Cup final next week after suffering a hamstring injury last month but Ancelotti has told reporters that he is in contention to start in Bergamo this evening.

"Vinicius is in good shape but we've got to assess him. I think it's very important for him how he does in training," said Ancelotti on Monday evening.

"We've got Rodrygo back and Bellingham is good. He's trained well."

Real Madrid are at risk of dropping out of the play-off positions for the last 16 in Bergamo.

Tonight is big for Real Madrid. They have lost three of their five Champions League games so far and currently have six points, leaving them 24th in league.

Stephen Warnock
Former Premier League defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Girona are doing OK but almost a team of ex-Premier League players. They have experience in there.

Sometimes you ride the crest of a wave like they did last season but then there is an expectation and it feels like they have had a little bit of a drop off.

Image source, Getty Images

This will be the first meeting between Girona and Liverpool in European competition.

Girona have never faced an English side before, while they will be the 13th different Spanish side that the Reds have faced in Europe.

Spanish teams are winless in their last seven games against English opponents in the Champions League (D3 L4), since Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Chelsea in April 2023.

According to Opta's Supercomputer, this is how the chances of British clubs lie in the Champions League, with the top eight automatically qualifying for the latter stages and 9th-24th facing a play-off:

• Liverpool are most likely to reach 24 points according to the Supercomputer and most likely to finish first, with a 63% chance.
• Arsenal are most likely to finish on 19 points with a 12.1% chance of finishing third.
• Aston Villa are likely to finish 14th with a 7.3% chance and will have 14 points.
• Manchester City have a 22.7% chance of finishing the group stage with 14 points and are most likely to finish 12th.
• Celtic are likely to finish 20th with 12 points.

Stephen Warnock
Former Premier League defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think Liverpool have a few players coming back to fitness that travelled to Girona which will lift the fans.

Arne Slot wants to continue the good form.

He is so aware of what is going on but what he has done very well is when he has got a strong team on, he is giving some of those rest at the end of games and those minutes will add up come the end of the season.

The good news for Liverpool tonight is that they should be pretty well rested for the game after having the weekend off.

Saturday's Merseyside derby with Everton was postponed because of Storm Darragh.

"If we played Everton we might have played the same team but you never know what that intense fixture could lead to," Liverpool boss Arne Slot said.

"I think it was a good decision to cancel it and if you play a special game like that it needs to be played in good circumstances, it was a good decision."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

The Girona mascot is a sight to behold.

It is called Sisa, who is apparently a funny fly who lives at Mosquilivi.

The club's website describes her as "humble, restless, a team player and a fighter when defending the city and the team, characteristics of Girona FC which are very well represented with her".

Still, better than a boiler...

Image source, Getty Images

Girona, who are playing in their first season in Europe, are 30th in the standings with three points from five games, three points off the playoffs,

BBC Sport visited Girona to find out how the Catalan club went from playing in the lower divisions to becoming part of the City Football Group and reaching the Champions League.

This is well worth a watch.

If you want to keep track of Celtic's progress this evening then follow the dedicated live text here.

Brendan Rodgers' side could catapult themselves into the top eight with three points in Croatia.

Can they manage it?

Image source, Getty Images

Ex-Bournemouth, Tottenham and Everton forward Arnaut Danjuma leads the attack for the hosts tonight.

The centre-forward role is not his natural position, so a lot of pressure on a player who has not scored since August.

British football fans will be familiar with many names in the Girona squad.

Among them is ex-Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek and former Southampton defensive midfielder Oriol Romeu.

They will be hoping their experience of facing sides like Liverpool may give them an advantage.

"We have to approach it as a historic and unique match but we have to work on it to arrive with options," Romeu said.

"Liverpool are an electric, dynamic, vertical, very attacking team. To suffer as little as possible we have to make them feel uncomfortable."

Further down the table Celtic currently sit 20th.

They, like Liverpool, kick off early this evening as they face Dinamo Zagreb looking for their third win in this season's Champions League that would boost their hopes of finishing in the top eight.

The Champions League table in this season's new format is that long it's almost impossible to read on one screen.

But here is how things look at the top end going into this evening's fixtures.

The league phase of the Champions League ends on 29 January and if Liverpool are eight points clear of ninth by close of play today, then they will be assured of a place in the knockouts.

Admittedly that requires something like eight teams on 11 or 10 points failing to win tonight, so it is very unlikely.

Image source, Getty Images

There we have the big team news for Liverpool as Alisson makes his return in goal after an 11-game absence through injury.

During his absence Caoimhin Kelleher has kept five clean sheets, including against Real Madrid and Manchester City.

"If you can play with Alisson, who has been so outstanding for the club for so many years and for the Brazil national team, that is definitely nice to have him back," says Reds boss Arne Slot.

"But if you then look at how his replacement did it is not going to be easy to do even better.

"We expect the same, and maybe on margins a bit better but Caoimh did so well we can say we have two good goalkeepers.

"But for so many years Alisson has been so outstanding for this club and we are expecting him to do the same over the next few months."

There are three British clubs in action this evening with Liverpool and Celtic kicking off the early games before Aston Villa play later.

There's also plenty of other big games in store...

Image source, Getty Images

Former Manchester United and Everton midfielder Donny van de Beek starts for Girona. Defender Daley Blind is another ex-United player in Girona's starting line-up.

Girona XI: Gazzaniga; Frances, Juanpe, Krejci, Blind; Van de Beek, Oriol Romeu; Miguel Gutierrez; Asprilla, Bryan Gil; Danjuma.

Subs: Pau Lopez, Lucas Garcia, Martinez, David Lopez, Stuani, Ruiz, Solis, Martin, Portu, Clua, Kim, Jastin Garcia.

Liverpool goalkeeper Allison Becker starts after missing 11 games with a hamstring injury. Back-up keeper Caoimhin Kelleher drops to the bench.

The Reds make three changes from the team that drew 3-3 with Newcastle. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai also come in with Alexis Mac Allister not in the squad and Jarell Quansah on the bench.

Liverpool XI: Allison; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.

Subs: Jaros, Kelleher, Endo, Gakpo, Elliott, McConnell, Norris, Quansah.

Image source, Getty Images

WWWWW.

Life has been perfect for Liverpool so far in the Champions League and they will be looking to extend their 100% record with a victory against Girona today.

Do that, and if results elsewhere go their way, then they could even ensure they cannot finish outside the top eight of the league phase.