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Liverpool are on the brink of securing qualification for the Champions League round of 16 when they face Girona, live on talk SPORT. The Reds will push to keep their perfect European run going with a sixth straight win to maintain their spot at the top of the table. Arne Slot's side are the only club in the expanded 36-team format to reach the 15-point mark after their opening five matches. Liverpool have already beaten Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen and Champions League holders Real Madrid this season. Victories in their final three Champions League games will ensure the Merseysiders cannot be overhauled at the top of the table. However, Liverpool can guarantee qualification for the last-16 by triumphing over Girona - if other results on Tuesday fall their way. The top eight sides are automatically through to the knockout stages in the new format, with ninth to 24th thrust into a play-off round. Seven teams are currently tied on 10 points, which includes from sixth place Bayer Leverkusen to French outfit Lille in 12th. Some of these sides either play each other or the rest of the top five, which are Barcelona (12), Borussia Dortmund (12) and Atalanta (11). This means that if Liverpool beat Girona they will be on an almost unassailable 18 points and all-but sealed their spot in the round of 16. Their qualification would be assured with a solitary point from their final two games, which eliminates any worry of goal difference. Liverpool can even mathematically secure their spot this week with a win over Girona, in the unlikely scenario that eight out of the 11 teams between sixth to 16th fail to get all three points. Qualifying inside the top eight will skip any playoff round as mentioned, with the finishing positions still having relevance. First to eighth will determine a team's seeding for the last 16, which in theory will give higher-up teams an easier path in the knockouts. All eight teams will face one of the victors from a play-off tie, with the added benefit of having a second leg in the round of 16 at home. However, there is no extra gain from being drawn against a play-off winner, which may see Liverpool involved in a blockbuster encounter. Atletico, AC Milan, Manchester City are currently 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th - with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain 24th and 25th. Liverpool boss Slot faced this exact question in his pre-match press conference on the significance of finishing top of the table. He replied: "It is so difficult to say anything about this. I have said it many times, but at the end of the season you can judge it in the best possible way – if it's helpful to end up in the top eight, if it's helpful to end up as No. 1. "Of course, it seems to be really helpful to end up first eight, but if every time you play your starters, which we have done until now almost every time, then you also need the results. "We try to do this to, first of all, be in the highest possible position but also to skip the next round. If in the end, it means by playing your starters always, skipping that round and still having a very difficult draw then we maybe are going to think about it differently next season, what we are going to do in the group stage. "That is something we have to wait and see in the end of the season, where this will lead us. First of all, we want to stay in the top eight and therefore we think we need a win – and the first chance we have is tomorrow night. " Girona XI:  Gazzaniga, Frances, Juanpe, Krejci, Blind, Romeu, Van de Beek, Gutierrez, Asprilla, Gil, Danjuma. Subs:  P. Lopez, Martinez, D. Lopez, Solis, Martin, Stuani, Ruiz, Portu. Liverpool XI:  Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Jones, Salah, Diaz, Nunez. Subs:  Jaros, Kelleher, Quansah, Endo, Mc Connell, Norris, Elliott, Gakpo. This Champions League clash is set to take place on Tuesday, December 10. Kick-off at Estadi Montilivi in Spain is scheduled for 5: 45pm UK time. talk SPORT 2 will have live coverage from Catalonia, with commentary from Adam Bridge and former Watford striker Troy Deeney. talk SPORT. com will also have updates in our dedicated live Champions League blog. To tune in to talk SPORT through the website,  click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talk SPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM. © 2024 talk SPORT Limited

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