Liverpool are not in the Champions League draw on Jan. 31 because the Reds automatically qualified for the round of 16. Since Slot's men finished atop the league phase standings, they do not have to participate in the knockout phase playoffs, and are therefore not in the draw.

Liverpool may have missed out on perfection but Arne Slot's side still topped the Champions League league phase table. Having won their opening seven games, defeat by PSV Eindhoven prevented the Reds from becoming the competition's 14th team to win all of their group-stage games in a season.

The inaugural ‘league phase’ of the revamped Champions League concluded after Matchday 8 unfolded across Europe last night.Despite their first European defeat under Arne Slot, Liverpool finished

Bournemouth earned four points from their first four Premier League games against Liverpool (W1 D1 L2), but have since earned just three from their past 11 (W1 D0 L10). The Cherries also scored more than twice as many goals in the first four (seven) than they have against the Reds in the last 11 (three).

An away clash at Bournemouth might not have been underlined as a major obstacle in Liverpool's pursuit of the Premier League title but Saturday's clash on the south coast suddenly looks anything but a relaxed trip to the seaside.