That's all from us today. Thanks - as always - for joining us and for all of your input!

We've heard from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and defender Josko Gvardiol ahead of their meeting with Club Brugge in the Champions League tomorrow.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery also addressed the media ahead of their meeting with Celtic in the same competition.

We'll be back with another live page tomorrow to build-up to what is going to be a huge night of football as the 36-team group phase of the Champions League concludes.

For now, here are today's top stories for you to catch up on.

• Referee David Coote hid sexuality for fear of abuse
• Arsenal appeal against Myles Lewis-Skelly red card
• Neymar set for Santos after Al-Hilal deal terminated
• What is at stake for Manchester City?

Pete: Jose and Conte knew playing high pressure attacking was a risk with the low financial backing and had to defend with players at their disposal. Hiring Ange with his high risk tactics is a risk itself and Spurs are suffering from it. The circus continues!

As of 26 January, lead the coefficient table. Premier League clubs have built up the most points and have the highest average.

1. England - points: 100; average: 14.34

2. Italy - points: 88; average: 11.05

3. Spain - points: 82; average: 11.77

4. France - points: 66 average: 10.94

5. Germany - points: 79 - average: 9.88

According to Opta, there is a 98% chance that the Premier League will earn an additional place in next season's Champions League.

Image source, Reuters

The winners of the Europa League are granted a Champions League slot.

Under previous rules, one league could have a maximum of five clubs in the Champions League.

However, that rule has been scrapped.

This season any team that win the Europa League but do not qualify for the Champions League via their domestic league position will go into the Champions League - as well as the domestic qualifiers.

This raises the possibility of Manchester United or Tottenham, who are both unlikely to qualify for the Champions League via their Premier League position, winning the Europa League to enter the Champions League alongside the top five.

Image source, Reuters

Should the Premier League earn an additional spot, the team finishing fifth this season will qualify for the 2025-26 Champions League.

Currently that is Newcastle.

But there is an 14-point gap between Arsenal in second and Fulham in 10th, meaning the race for the top five is very much open.

Third-placed Nottingham Forest are having a sensational season and Opta predictions give them a 44% chance of finishing in the top four.

Should fifth place earn a Champions League spot, Forest's chances of qualification increase to 63%.

Opta gives Newcastle a 27% chance of finishing in the top four and 45% in the top five, with Bournemouth at 13% and 26% respectively.

Should the Premier League earn five Champions League places, there will still be two places available in the Europa League and one in the Conference League next season.

Manchester City

That's it for Manchester City's training session... well that's how much they are going to let us see anyway.

No doubt they will go through the gears a little more to prepare for tomorrow night's game.

Each league earns a coefficient ranking based on how their teams perform in Europe.

Coefficient points are earned through match results - two for a win and one for a draw.

The points earned by clubs from the same domestic league are added up and divided by the number of clubs the league has in Europe.

For example, if the Premier League had 100 points, that would be split by the number of teams playing in Europe (seven) and give England a coefficient of 14.28.

This season bonus points are available to clubs playing in the Champions League, which is advantageous to leagues with more clubs competing in it, such as Germany and Italy.

The countries that finish in the top two of the coefficient table earn an additional Champions League spot.

Those spots are awarded to the teams which finish in the first position below the Champions League allocation in those leagues.

Last season the additional spots were given to Bologna and Borussia Dortmund, who finished fifth in Serie A and the Bundesliga respectively.

Image source, EPA

In years gone by, the 'race for the top four' in the Premier League has been a byword for Champions League qualification.

But that could change this season, with the Premier League leading the race to earn a fifth spot in Europe's premier club competition.

As was the case last season, Uefa will award two bonus spots in the 2025-26 Champions League to the domestic leagues which perform best in Europe this season.

What does it mean?

Supporters of Bournemouth, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest could be cheering on Manchester City, Aston Villa and Manchester United as we head into the final group-stage matches in the Champions League and Europa League.

There is even a scenario that could give English clubs seven Champions League places next season.

Confused? Let us explain...

Simon: Hi Phil, should Man United sell their young but still unproven talent to fund ready-made replacements who can deliver more immediate results, or be patient and work to develop them?

Phil: Hi Simon. I think some sales would be contemplated because of the financial situation, but I would regard the sale of someone like Kobbie Mainoo as counter-productive. He has the talent to be an integral part of Manchester United’s future for years to come.

Alejandro Garnacho is another who could develop, but obviously other factors may be at work.

I would, however, put a fence around Mainoo. I would be working with this sort of talent – and also, you have to be convinced those ready-made replacements are better than what United already have. Enough money has been wasted on average played by Manchester United in recent years without hastily casting off their own products.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City

Erling Haaland is the latest to emerge onto the training pitch at the City Football Academy.

John Stones, who came on for the final half an hour against Chelsea on Sunday is also out there. When asked if Stones would play tomorrow, Pep Guardiola said "we will see".

Martin, Derby: Hi Phil. Sancho, Rashford, McTominay, Wan Bissaka, Greenwood and the rumours around Mainoo not staying. There appears to be a theme at Man Utd around the mishandling of player exits and rumoured exits who, once exited, then go on to excel at their next clubs. All these player examples are different narratives of course but is Man Utd its own worst enemy when it comes to player management?

Phil: Hello, Martin. Obviously circumstances can differ vastly according to each departure, as they did in the examples you have reeled off there, so not all situations can be treated the same.

I would simply make a general point that Manchester United has not been a very well run club for some time now, as proved by their flawed recruitment strategy. Paying £81.3m for Antony? Seriously? It is now down to the Sir Jim Ratcliffe regime to turn the ship around by making some good decisions – although the start has been pretty unconvincing in the football context, especially the keeping on, then sacking, of Erik ten Haag after allowing him to spend so much in the transfer market. A very bad, very expensive, sequence of decisions.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City

Manchester City's training session is just getting started.

Oscar Bobb is among those out there on the training pitch.

He hasn't played since 10 August after fracturing a bone in his leg. He's likely to return to the match day squad for tomorrow's all-important tie.

Richard, North Shields: Hello Phil - I hope you’re well. So, is PSR actually working? The difference between clubs in terms of quality and points on the board seems to be shrinking. Is any if this due to PSR? With a few exceptions it seems more like anyone can beat anyone.

Phil: Hi Richard. A few people making this point, although you see clubs such as Newcastle United who would like to spend more but are unable to do so, which is certainly keeping them closer to the pack.

You will have some saying PSR is a device to stop clubs who may find themselves with rich benefactors using it catch up quickly, thus almost creating a cartel at the top, while others will say it is working as it stops clubs over-stretching and landing themselves in financial difficulties. Two sides to the story.

On the one hand, some will insist PSR is working, while others will feel it’s holding them back. I think there has always been an element of anyone can beat anyone in the Premier League, although I do feel that factor has been reduced now. What we have seen is clubs like Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest at least come closer to breaking through the glass ceiling, as Aston Villa did last season – and it has really added something to the Premier League this season. Long may that continue.

Manchester City

We're streaming Manchester City's training session ahead of tomorrow's important Champions League encounter against Club Brugge.

You can watch it right here on this page. Just click 'watch live' at the top of the page.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Manchester United's new stadium plans are moving forward.

Trafford Council has confirmed it is to appoint consultants to work on the regeneration of the Wharfside area, of which Old Trafford and a planned new United stadium are a part.

The work has already been backed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the local council feel a huge opportunity is in front of them.

Councillor Liz Patel, Trafford Council’s Executive member for Economy and Regeneration, said: “The Trafford Wharfside masterplan offers a regeneration vision for a hugely important area within Trafford which takes in the world-famous sporting institution that is Manchester United as well as other major sites including the Imperial War Museum and the Manchester Ship Canal. We are now on the lookout for a world-class consultant team to shape the vision for the area.

“This is a hugely exciting project and working with our partners and private developers, we will be looking to create thousands of new homes, new neighbourhoods and help create a world-class setting for the Manchester United stadium. I am delighted that the Trafford Wharfside area is the focus of this important future planning project."

Neil in Notts: Hi Phil, following on from comments about giving managers the opportunity to appeal a decision, would it be out of the question to go down the route of other sports such as cricket and hockey whereby if the appeal is successful they keep it to use again should they need?

Phil: Afternoon, Neil. I think that makes perfect sense. I just wouldn’t want to create a situation where the game is held up even more than it already is by VAR, having too many reviews/appeals. I think the cricket system suits the pace and flow of the game so three reviews is fine. I would limit them to one or, at most, two in football – with a review kept if successful. It’s certainly worth thinking about.

Image source, Getty Images

Joe: Hi Phil. What can be done about time wasting and breaking up game-rhythm by players going down and pretending they have been hurt more than they really have? It’s exasperating and bordering on cheating in my view. Would increasing the time off the pitch from 30 seconds to three minutes put a stop to it and make for a more free flowing game?

Phil: Hello, Joe. This is a tough one for referees and officials, because how are they to know if a player is seriously injured or simply playing for time?

The increase to three minutes would be a difficult one as I’m not even sure the 30-second rule is the right answer. I think if a player is very obviously found to be time wasting, then punishment should be applied, even if it is done retrospectively.

What we have seen is an increase in the amount of time being taken over re-starts, especially by goalkeepers. If it is obvious time-wasting, they should be given a yellow card for the first offence and warned they would get a second yellow, with a zero tolerance approach, and sent off should they do it again. I would love to see this brought in and acted upon. The respective teams could have this made very clear to them before kick-off. Rest assured, a couple of dismissals and – if the players and managers have any sense – it would soon stop.