Real Madrid

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It isn't just Manchester City among the big players who are struggling in this new format.

Holders RealMadrid are currently 24th, and sit four points off the top eight.

Their most likely finishing position is 18th according to Opta, at 9.3%.

Their chances of finishing in the top eight and avoiding a play-off sit at just over 2%.

There's just under a 7% chance they will be eliminated completely.

They are 65% likely in some guise to make the round of 16.

They face Atalanta (away, 10 Dec), RB Salzburg (home, 22 Jan) and Brest (away, 29 Jan) in their final three matches.

Brighton & Hove Albion

There has been plenty going on this morning but we haven't forgotten about Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler's news conference.

We'll bring you some updates from that within the next half an hour or so...

Steve McManaman
Former Real Madrid winger on TNT Sports

Kylian Mbappe flattered to deceive and that penalty was his moment.

The Madrid media are ruthless and they will be ruthless about Mbappe because he had to produce and he didn't.

With Vinicius Jr not here, would Mbappe step up? No, he didn't.

Guillem Balague
Spanish football journalist on MOTD Champions League

Carlo Ancelotti feels people in Real Madrid are doubting his ability to turn this around.

He feels that the doubts will grow with every game because he is unable to put a team out at the moment that is fluent in football, these things require time.

But he knows not a lot of time is allowed at Real Madrid and the doubt if he is the man for the job in the near future comes from within.

Real Madrid

Moving back to Wednesday's Champions League action, Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham said there is "no disgrace" in losing to Liverpool, but it was a "bad result".

Madrid are now 24th in the table and face a battle to reach the top eight.

Gary Cahill
Former Chelsea and Aston Villa defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

It is bizarre what is happening at Man City, we're not used to seeing it. Everybody is waiting for a reaction.

Liverpool must not be able to wait for the game on Sunday. When you're in this kind of run of form you can't wait for the next game and the atmosphere will be amazing within the club.

Manchester City are fragile and Liverpool probably can't wait and must feel like they are going to win every game and have the confidence and arrogance to wonder by how many goals.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Veteran Manchester City Ilkay Gundogan is in no doubt over the consequences of another defeat for Pep Guardiola’s team at Liverpool on Sunday.

They face falling 11 points behind Arne Slot’s men should the worst happen.

Asked if City need to win, Gundogan said: “To stay in the title race probably yes, because 11 points would be a huge gap.

“It’s still early in the season. There are still a lot of games to play and a lot of things can happen, not just on our side but at every other team.

“But obviously we have to look at ourselves and try to do the things we can do better, as quick as possible.”

Image source, Getty Images

The new format is throwing up surprises, with some of the pre-competition favourites potentially missing out on the top eight and automatic qualification for the round of 16 in March.

Sides that finish between ninth and 24th - where Man City and Real Madrid currently sit, alongside the likes of Aston Villa, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid - would face a two-legged play-off in February.

First-leg ties would be 11/12 February, with return games the following week on 18/19 February.

The teams that finish ninth to 16th have an advantage by being at home in the second leg.

One negative is having to play two extra games, while there will also be a hit to prize money you can win. It isn't too substantial at around a 1m euros (approx £832,000) so the extra games is the main thing clubs will be affected by.

Opta have been crunching the numbers and their Supercomputer has worked out the likelihood of the five British teams progressing in the Champions League and what spot they are most likely to take.

Current leaders Liverpool havea 62.8% chance of remaining in that position and finishing top after matchday eight in January. They have more than 97% chance of coming in the top eight and avoiding a play-off.

Arsenal's predicted finish is third, with Mikel Arteta's side 12.1% likely to finish there. They have just under a 70% chance of finishing in the top eight. There's less than 0.1% chance of them finishing outside the top 24.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa are most likely to finish 14th, at 7.3%. Their chances of finishing in the top eight lie at about 17.5%, with just over 0.1% chance of them finishing outside the top 24.

Manchester City's most likely final position is 12th according to the Supercomputer, at 8.2%. Their chances of finishing in the top eight at just over 15%, while there is around 3% chance they could be eliminated completely.

Finally, Celtic's are predicted to finish 20th (9.2%) and secure a play-off spot. Their chances of a top-eight finish are just under 10%, while the likelihood of them going out all together sits at just over 5%.

You can see Opta's full breakdown here.

Chris Sutton
Former Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily

What on earth is going on at Manchester City? They absolutely capitulated. They are just normal Manchester City, like any other team at the moment.The wheels are off and it is so unusual for us to see it.

A full-strength Liverpool are better than Manchester City? But, can we keep ruling them out? I don't think we can, can we? They'll come good at some stage, won't they?

Listen to the Football Daily on BBC Sounds.

Manchester City

Manchester City's winless run extended to six games on Tuesday when they lost a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 against Feyenoord.

It followed five successive defeats in all competitions, which is their longest run since 2006.

Danny Murphy, Thomas Hitzlsperger and Julien Laurens looked at what went wrong and the problems Pep Guardiola's side have.

Chris Sutton
Former Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily

It has been a really good season bar the one performance against [Borussia] Dortmund where they took a hell of a pummeling but Dortmund are capable of doing that to anybody.

They didn't need the Champions League qualification and I think that helped people like Nicolas Kuhn who came in last season - he looks to be a completely different player - the best player in Scotland this season.

Celtic are in a really good place. You only have to look south of the border and you see teams like Manchester City that are having a big blip. It's very difficult to maintain that consistency domestically and in Champions League competition and I think Celtic have done pretty well on both counts.

It's about finishing the job now.

Listen to Football Daily on BBC Sounds.

Stiliyan Petrov
Former Aston Villa and Celtic midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast

[Celtic were] outstanding, the team is playing really well. They are very well prepared.

[Brendan Rodgers] has done a tremendous job, the team is playing really well and playing with great confidence. They are in a very comfortable position as well in the Champions League and still have a great opportunity to make the play-offs.

That last game between Aston Villa and Celtic could be the decider for both teams.

Scott, Belfast: Never understand those comments about 'the final isn't in November' etc. Yeah of course it's not, but you'd rather be top than not? Top of the Premier league and champions league. Surely better to be top than not.. even in November.

Gary Cahill
Former Chelsea and Aston Villa defender on the Football Daily podcast

I think Villa will be fine with the point at home. Looking at their campaign so far, it has been three wins, that bizarre loss at Club Brugge with the freak goal, and the draw.

They are ninth at the moment, just in the play-offs, so the campaign has been successful up to now.

Listen to the Football Daily on BBC Sounds.

Stiliyan Petrov
Former Aston Villa and Celtic midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast

[The disallowed goal] was a free-kick to be honest, as much as I want to say it was not a free-kick. We've all been there, we’ve all thrown our body to the goalkeeper in the last minute.

Both teams were very cautious, very prepared, they both knew each other's weaknesses and strengths. Everybody was just ready for the opposition to make a mistake.

Overall I believe that was a well deserved draw for Villa. I think both managers will be happy with that point and I think Villa are sitting in a very comfortable place.

With three matchdays remaining in the Champions League, here is who each of the five British sides still need to face.

Liverpool

• Girona (away, 10 December)
• Lille (home, 21 January)
• PSV (away, 29 January)

Arsenal

• Monaco (home, 11 December)
• Dinamo Zagreb (home, 22 January)
• Girona (away, 29 January)

Aston Villa

• RB Leipzig (away, 10 December)
• Monaco (home, 21 January)
• Celtic (home, 29 January)

Man City

• Juventus (away, 11 December)
• Paris St-Germain (away, 22 January)
• Club Brugge (home, 29 January)

Celtic

• Dinamo Zagreb (away, 10 December)
• Young Boys (home, 22 January)
• Aston Villa (away, 29 January)

In recent years, the group stage was set up with 32 teams in eight groups of four - with the top two sides from those groups qualifying for the last 16.

However, from this season the expanded 36-team tournament sees each side play eight different teams - four at home and four away - in a league phase.

Teams who finish in the top eight will qualify automatically for the last 16, while those who place ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged knockout play-off for the chance to join them.

Teams that finish ninth to 16th will be at home in the second leg, so finishing as high as possible in that second section is important.

Whoever finishes 25th or lower will be eliminated, and will not be entered into the Europa League.

Here's the bottom 18 in the Champions League.

Celtic are in a decent position to make the two-legged play-offs, with another three points likely to be enough to secure that spot.

Their remaining games are against Dinamo Zagreb (away, 10 Dec), Young Boys (home, 22 Jan) and Aston Villa (away, 29 Jan).

Look at Real Madrid and Paris St-Germain in there too. Both sides have a lot of work to do.

Image source, BBC Sport/Getty Images