The Reds are not involved at this stage, as we automatically qualified for the round of 16 by virtue of finishing third in the league phase of the revamped tournament.

The identity of our next opposition is not yet clear and won’t be until the draw is made on Friday 21 February.

However, we do know that it will be one of four possible sides, a number which will be narrowed down to two after the play-offs have concluded.

Tottenham Hotspur, who came fourth in the table, also have the same prospective fixtures – Ruben Amorim’s men cannot come across Ange Postecoglou’s side until the final in May, as we will be placed into opposite halves of the draw.

That means there will be a big English focus on AZ Alkmaar and Galatasaray, who face off in the Netherlands this week, before a return in Istanbul, and the battles between Midtjylland and Real Sociedad, in Denmark and Spain respectively.

Here’s a quick look at each match-up, ahead of Thursday’s meetings…

AZ ALKMAAR v GALATASARAY

Galatasaray (14th in league phase) failed to win any of their final four fixtures, dropping out of the automatic spots they’d occupied for much of the group phase, while AZ (19th) were winless on the road but victorious in three of their four home fixtures, beating Elfsborg, Fenerbahce and Roma. The exception was a 1-1 draw with Gala on matchday five, and presumably the Turks would be happy with a repeat ahead of the second leg at Rams Park, where they haven’t lost since August.

Okan Buruk’s side lead the Turkish Super Lig but their match against Adana Demirspor was abandoned at the weekend, after the visitors walked off the pitch in protest at the award of a penalty. Alvaro Morata – who signed on loan from Milan in January – had converted the spot-kick and is one of numerous attacking options for the former winners, along with the likes of Dries Mertens and top scorer Victor Osimhen, but Mauro Icardi is injured.

AZ – beaten UEFA Cup finalists in 1981 – have risen to fourth in the Eredivisie under Maarten Martens following a strong run over the Christmas and new-year period. Former Spurs forward Troy Parrott is enjoying a fine campaign, having scored 16 times already, while Jordy Clasie is the experienced head in a midfield containing young Dutch talents Peer Koopmeiners and Sven Mijnans. The latter was on target when the teams shared the points at AFAS Stadion in late November.

First leg: 13 February (20:00 GMT)
Second leg: 20 February (17:45 GMT)

MIDTJYLLAND v REAL SOCIEDAD

While Real Sociedad have dipped a touch in recent weeks, winning two of their last seven in La Liga, they should be favourites to progress beyond a Midtjylland (20th) side who only came back from their winter break in late January to conclude the league phase. La Real struggled to begin with in this competition, but took nine points from their last four outings to finish strongly, in 13th, while Valdemar Byskov’s late equaliser against Fenerbahce on matchday eight helped the Danes avoid early elimination.

The scorer of Euro 2024’s winning goal, Mikel Oyarzabal, is the undoubted star man for the Basque club, while Takefusa Kubo is highly rated. However Imanol Aguacil’s side have found scoring difficult this term and may have to rely on their defence, behind midfield metronome Martin Zubimendi, to progress.

Midtjylland are Danish champions and Thomas Thomasberg’s squad combines youthful vigour from across the globe with experienced former Premier League operators in captain Mads Bech Sorensen – once of Brentford – and former Newcastle and Fulham full-back Kevin Mbabu. Midfielder Byskov is a player to look out for, as are attacker Franculino Dju and goalscoring defender Ousmane Diao. The opening leg is at the MCH Arena in Denmark.

First leg: 13 February (17:45 GMT)
Second leg: 20 February (20:00 GMT)

Of course, there will also be an interest in the other six ties, as we could end up facing the winners further down the line, depending on our progress.

Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce play Anderlecht having sneaked into the top 24, while Porto take on Roma in a mouthwatering clash between two European giants.

Ajax are up against Belgians Union Saint-Gilloise and Robbie Keane’s Ferencvaros have been drawn with Viktoria Plzen.

Two of our group opponents will play each other, in PAOK and FCSB, while a pair of teams who have been to Old Trafford already this season – FC Twente and Bodo/Glimt – round out the play-off match-ups.