The new Uefa Champions League format has come under increased scrutiny after the leaders of the land have questioned its legitimacy.
The leaders of course, are Liverpool and the comments from coach Arne Slot may cause organisers to rethink the expanded 36-team structure in future.
All the teams that qualified for this season’s competition were pitted in one massive group, and the top 24 advance to the next phase of the Champions League after eight games.
The Premier League table toppers, meanwhile, top the table and even a defeat in their final group match will mean little as the top eight advance straight to the round of 16. The teams finishing ninth to 24th will have to play in a two-legged knock-out phase play-off before they can advance to the last 16.
Since their final group game against PSV away on Wednesday evening will matter little, 12 first team Liverpool players will not be making the trip to the Netherlands.
“It has taken me a while to understand this new format but I’m now 100% sure it doesn’t matter if you end up first or second,” said Slot.
“Because we are guaranteed to play the team that is 15th, 16th, 17th or 18th, and then it’s down to the draw.”
Slot explained that his charges could drop to third and still it would have no impact. That said, the team he does assemble for the PSV clash will be one he expects to win.
“A wise man once said to me he’s never seen anything good come from losing a game.
“My squad is a choice for the long-term. The (fringe players) do not need to prove themselves, we know what their quality is, but we are playing many, many games and the ones we left behind could have played but we need to think long-term. Help them get their freshness back.”