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THE expanded Champions League has delighted and confused fans in equal abundance so far this season.

More teams and more matches – plus a league table to contend with – have left many fans wondering what exactly is going on.

AP

Liverpool are already into the hat for the Champions League Round of 16 draw – but have will have to wait to find out who their opponents are[/caption]

There is just one round of matches to play after Wednesday’s fixtures, with all remaining games set to take place on January 29.

But then what?

There will be a draw next week – but with some teams already into the knockout phase, it’s not how it was before.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Champions League knockout draw and stages.

When is the Champions League knockout stage draw?

The main draw for the knockout phase takes place on Friday, February 21.

However, there is ALSO a draw taking place for the knockout phase play-offs.

Under the new league table format, which has 36 teams, the top eight teams in the table are automatically put into the Round of 16 and are seeded.

The bottom eight teams are eliminated from European competition, with no move into the Europa League like in previous years.

The next 16 teams – those that finished between 9th and 24th – then head into the knockout phase play-offs.

The teams that finished 9th to 16th will be seeded and drawn against teams that finished 17th to 24th (unseeded).

The draw for that round of games take place on Friday, January 31.

While Liverpool have already guaranteed qualification, fellow English sides Arsenal, Aston Villa and Man City still have it all to play for.

When does the Champions League knockout phase play-offs take place and when is the Round of 16?

Teams that finished in the top eight and automatically reached the Round of 16 have a little bit of a wait on their hands.

After the final league phase game on January 29, the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona will not play their Champions League last 16 games until March.

Those fixtures are scheduled to take place on March 4-5 and 11-12.

For the knockout phase play-offs, there is a slightly shorter wait – those two-legged games take on February 11-12 and 18-19.

MILLENIC ALLI is poised to join Luton Town in a €1.8million deal.

Alli, 24, has scored 12 times in all competitions for League One side Exeter City this season.

And now he will try to help Luton’s bid to avoid a second successive relegation with the Hatters second from bottom in the Championship.

Reared in Dublin, he lined out for St Francis and represented the DDSL in the Kennedy Cup.

After his family moved to England where he joined Bury’s youth academy before making waves in non-league circles.

He lined out for South Shields, Workington, Ashton United, Stockport, Chorley and Halifax before the Grecians signed him 12 months ago.

Meanwhile, Bohemians boss Alan Reynolds has hailed the quality of loan signing Kian Best.

Best, 19, has joined Bohs until the summer, when his Preston North End contract ends.

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The left-back made 12 Championship appearances and won five England under-19 caps, scoring on his debut against Romania, last season.

He featured in their opening game of this campaign too but, after Ryan Lowe stepped down after that game.

His only games under his successor Paul Heckingbottom came in the Carabao Cup.

But Reynolds believes he will prove a valuable addition. He said: “I am delighted to get Kian on board.

MANCHESTER United star Nicky Butt’s 50th birthday party is at the centre of a police probe after an alleged head-butt left a security guard with a suspected broken nose.

Cops are questioning witnesses and scouring CCTV footage from celeb haunt Soho Farmhouse, Oxfordshire.

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Ex-Manchester United player Nicky Butt’s 50th birthday party is at the centre of a police probe[/caption]

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Gary Neville was at the event where an alleged head-butt left a security guard with a suspected broken nose[/caption]

Alamy

Fellow class of ’92 star Paul Scholes also attended[/caption]

Guests included David and Victoria Beckham, plus Class of 92 pals Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.

A source said: “There was blood everywhere. People were shocked.”

The clash followed an afternoon of drinking after 30 people moved on from the private dining room to a bar area at Soho Farmhouse near Great Tew, Oxfordshire.

Trouble is said to have flared between 7pm and 8pm after a man left the bar to go outside.

The security guard is said to have spotted the man relieving himself against a courtyard wall.

He approached the man and remonstrated with him.

It is alleged the man then snapped in a drunken fury and head-butted the guard.

Police said they received a report of the alleged assault at 9.15pm, around two hours after it happened and as the extent of the guard’s injuries became known.

Officers then turned up at the members-only club which also offers £800-a-night cabins.

A source said: “The guard went to have a word with the guy causing offence and was then head-butted in the face.

“There was blood everywhere and people were shocked as the guard came inside with his face in a total mess.”

The Beckhams — who have a £12million estate around the corner from Soho Farmhouse — returned home soon after the ­incident.

Butt, Neville, Scholes and their partners also left to be driven back to their homes near ­Manchester.

The wounded guard was taken to hospital for treatment to facial injuries.

He has given police a full statement and is said to be currently off work recovering from his injuries.

Thames Valley Police confirmed their attendance and investigation.

Nobody has been arrested so far.

Midfielder Butt turned 50 on January 21 and had invited a host of friends to the lunch party last Friday, January 24.

They included his teammates from the Class of 1992, a crop of exceptional young United talents who emerged that year and remain close friends.

The source added: “There were a few well-known faces there ­including some of the 1992 class and their wives and girlfriends, including Victoria Beckham.

“They were there for a lunch to celebrate Nicky Butt’s 50th birthday and the drinks were flowing all afternoon.”

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The class of ’92 were a cohort of youth players who ascended to the Man U first team in 1992[/caption]

soho farmhouse

The venue was celeb haunt Soho Farmhouse, Oxfordshire[/caption]

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Guests included David and Victoria Beckham[/caption]

The source added: “It’s the very last place you would expect to hear of that kind of behaviour going on.

“Soho Farmhouse is very upmarket and fashionable.

“This kind of incident is certainly not a regular occurrence there.

“The other guests and staff alike were all shocked about what happened.

“It ruined a lovely day.”

A police spokesman confirmed: “An assault at a business premises in Great Tew was reported to Thames Valley Police at about 9.15pm on January 24.

“It is alleged that a man assaulted a member of security.

“Thames Valley Police is conducting a thorough investigation, including taking a statement from and supporting the victim, obtaining and reviewing any CCTV available and taking witness statements.

“No arrests have been made at this time.”

The Class of 92 formed the nucleus of the Manchester United team which went on to win more than 20 trophies under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Butt, Becks, 49, Scholes, 50, Ryan Giggs, 51, and brothers Gary Neville, 49, and Phil, 48, featured in a 2013 ­documentary about their rise and stellar careers.

A second series was made in 2016 and featured the ex-players — minus Beckham — buying Salford City FC.

Butt had been CEO of League Two Salford until quitting last year.

The six Class of 92 players ­collectively won an extraordinary 120 trophies between them — including two Champions Leagues.

Giggs lifted 35 trophies in 963 games for the Red Devils while Butt won 14 in 387 matches.

Beckham won 12 in 394 games, Gary Neville got 20 in 602 games and brother Phil, now based in the US, lifted 14 in 386 games.

Meanwhile, Scholes won 25 trophies in 718 games.

Former England captain Beckham and some of his four children are said to be regulars at Soho ­Farmhouse, which featured in the acclaimed Netflix documentary about him in 2023.

A Soho Farmhouse spokesperson declined to comment last night.

News Group Newspapers Ltd

PA:Press Association

Gary Neville captained Manchester United for many years[/caption]

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Paul Scholes is considered one of the best midfielders to play for the club[/caption]

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David Beckham won many league titles with United, before transferring to Real Madrid in 2003[/caption]

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Butt playing in a Manchester United charity game[/caption]

Where the rich relax

ULTRA-exclusive Soho Farmhouse has been touted as a “hamlet of hedonism” and “the country retreat for people who would otherwise never go to the country”.

Deep in the Cotswolds, it is part of the international Soho House private members club and hosted Meghan’s hen party before her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry.

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Soho Farmhouse has been touted as a ‘hamlet of hedonism’[/caption]

Reality TV queen Kourtney Kardashian and pop star Dua Lipa have visited.

Guest speakers have included ex-England and Liverpool footballer Jordan Henderson and actress Billie Piper.

Entry is strictly members-only, with a hefty price tag attached.

Rooms in the Grade II-listed farmhouse start at £295.

Cabins set in its 100 acres cost even more.

The rich and famous can relax at the luxury health club, heated pools, and country pub.

There is a “lazy lake” with sunken hot tubs, an infrared sauna, plus steam and ice rooms.

A “wellness barn” offers pilates, meditation, and fitness classes.

Punters also have access to manicures and pedicures, facials and massages.

Outdoor pursuits include horse riding, boating, clay shooting or tennis.

Guests can marvel at original artworks and tuck into food from top-tier Japanese cuisine to a classic Sunday roast.

Soho House owns a range of other swanky spots across the globe, including New York, Paris, Rome and Amsterdam.

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