How many points Liverpool could need to qualify for the Champions League knockout phase

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool put three precious Champions League points on the board on Wednesday, after thumping Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1.

The Reds headed into the game having won one and lost one in this season’s competition, sitting more or less in the middle of the elongated table.

It is a different experience from last year for Liverpool, when they blitzed all before them to top the group.

The Reds won their first seven Champions League fixtures in 2024/25, comfortably securing qualification long before the end of the group phase.

As a result, Liverpool did not need to worry about how many points would get them into the last-16. It was never a real concern.

But with things looking set to be a little tighter for them this time around, Liverpool fans should give themselves an idea of how many points are likely to be needed for safe passage to the knockout stage.

Two more wins needed for Liverpool

After picking up two wins from their first two games, Liverpool are not in a bad position in this year’s Champions League table.

The Reds sit in 10th place, which at the moment will secure them a play-off spot. Not ideal, perhaps, but it could be worse.

READ MORE: Arne Slot may have seen one of this season’s biggest problems solved during Liverpool’s win over Eintracht

If Liverpool want to avoid a two-legged last-32 tie, they will have to jump two places into the top eight. In 2024/25, 16 points were needed for a top eight finish. Three wins and a draw from five games would do it for the Reds.

Having already lost one match – and with tough fixtures against Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Marseille to come – that seems a fairly tall order for Liverpool. It’s not impossible, but may be difficult.

However, they should still be absolutely fine to avoid the ‘relegation’ zone, which sees the teams from 25th to 36th knocked out of the competition.

Last season, 11 points would have been fine to keep any team in the competition. For Liverpool that means two wins out of five matches would do it.

Despite the Reds’ poor form at the moment, that is unlikely to be a problem. Home matches against PSV Eindhoven and Qarabag, for example, look like a premium time for those points to be accrued.

How many points are Liverpool likely to pick up?

Wednesday night’s win was a really important one for Liverpool in several different aspects.

Obviously, it put an end to four straight defeats for the Reds, but it also alleviated the pressure on them in a Champions League sense.

Six points from nine having played two away games – and a tough home clash with Atletico Madrid – gives them a platform to at least make it through via a play-off spot.

Liverpool still have some tough games on the calendar, however, with Real Madrid next up at Anfield.

The Reds then face PSV, also at home, before arguably their hardest fixture of the group phase comes away at Inter Milan.

A difficult-looking trip to Marseille then follows, before Liverpool round up the first round with an Anfield date with Qarabag.