Liverpool host Napoli in the final round of the Champions League group stages tonight with both sides already through to the knockout stages.
The Reds secured their place in the post-World Cup round-of-16 last week with a comfortable 3-0 win at Ajax, turning round the opening gameweek's 4-1 humbling in Naples to win their following four games. Luciano Spalletti's side got off to the ideal start on that evening back in September, and the Italian side have arguably just got better since, winning all five of their group stage games and scoring 20 goals in the process.
But tonight's clash is not a dead-rubber - not quite, anyway. Liverpool can still overtake Napoli top Group A with an unlikely commanding win, and that could have huge ramifications for the Reds' path through the knockout stages come February. But how exactly can they do it?
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Champions League group rules
Barring the obvious rule that the team with the most points finishes higher, UEFA has devised several criteria to determine who should top the group when points are equal.
Contrary to Premier League rules which prioritise goal difference over the course of a season, the Champions League - much like some European leagues - looks first at head-to-head records, with points, goal difference and goals scored from the two fixtures compared in that order.
If teams remain on equal footing at that point, UEFA states the same three markers - points, goal difference and goals scored - are 'reapplied exclusively to the matches between the remaining teams to determine their final rankings.'
What Liverpool must do to top Group A
To top Group A, Liverpool must beat Napoli by four clear goals at Anfield tonight, thus giving them a superior head-to-head goal difference after the opening weekend 4-1 defeat.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has dispelled serious talk of a four-goal turnover this evening - unsurprising, given Napoli have conceded just four goals in total during their give group stage matches - but they will undoubtedly be gunning for top spot, however unlikely.
Luciano Spalletti admitted his side 'are not daft' and will be weary of Klopp's realism: “I read he said they are not winning 4-0 tomorrow. I think he was serious when he said what he did. I'm happy to talk to him about whether they can win 4-0 but obviously sometimes you get too much praise which can take you to too high a level and you end up listening too much.
"Pride comes before a fall. Who knows, the fact of the matter is he has been in two of the last four Champions League finals. We are not daft and are not hoodwinked by anyone."
How will Liverpool's place affect the knockout stage draw?
The general rule applies that finishing first is far more likely to lead to a preferable round-of-16 tie, with UEFA rules on the draw not allowing group toppers to face each other.
Teams also cannot face opponents from the same domestic league, meaning the Reds cannot face any of Manchester City, Chelsea or Tottenham, should they all progress - they also cannot face Napoli form their own group.
Guaranteed to finish top of their respective groups are Bayern Munich, City and Chelsea, while Club Brugge, Spurs, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain all sit top going into the final week of fixtures. Should the groups remain the same, then Klopp's side could face any of Bayern, PSG, Brugge or Madrid in February.
But if Liverpool can produce an unlikely thrashing tonight and top Group A, they will likely be drawn against one of Porto, Inter Milan, Sporting Lisbon/Eintracht Frankfurt, AC Milan/RB Salzburg, RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund or Benfica.
While these permutations can alter slightly with results this week - PSG, Madrid and Brugge can all be toppled from top spot - they are likely to remain similar, with the elite of European competition in general topping their groups while the 'best of the rest' fill in second place.
Far from a dead-rubber tonight, then.
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