Liverpool made history in the group stage of the 2021-22 Champions League, becoming the first English team to ever progress with a perfect record of six wins from six in Group B.
Jurgen Klopp's side booked their place in the last 16 as Group B winners with two games to spare, courtesy of victories over AC Milan, Porto and Atletico Madrid (twice).
The Reds did not take their foot off the pedal, though, then overcoming Porto once more before completing their flawless record with another triumph over AC Milan at San Siro, despite fielding a much-changed team.
As per the rules in the Champions League, Liverpool are unable to face another seeded team in the last 16, while they also cannot be drawn against a fellow English club or a team they have already faced in the groups - ruling out Chelsea and Atletico from the equation.
Here, Sports Mole looks at every team the Merseysiders could face in the last 16.
Paris Saint-Germain (France)
Arguably the toughest test on paper for Liverpool would be Paris Saint-Germain, complete with their front three of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
PSG could only finish as runners-up behind Manchester City in Group A, winning three, drawing two and losing one of their six matches.
The two clubs have faced each other four times in the past, most recently in the 2018-19 group stage en route to Liverpool winning the trophy. The head-to-head record is evenly split at two wins apiece.
Sporting Lisbon (Portugal)
Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon perhaps exceeded expectations by even getting out of Group C, pipping Borussia Dortmund to the runners-up place despite finishing level on points.
Ruben Amorim's side were some way adrift of group winners Ajax, but ultimately did enough to book their place in the last 16 for the first time since 2008-09, despite losing their opening two games.
Liverpool have never faced Sporting in a competitive match before.
Inter Milan (Italy)
Having dispatched of AC Milan not once but twice, Liverpool could come up against their city rivals and reigning Italian champions Inter Milan in the last 16.
The Nerazzurri reached the knockout stages for the first time in a decade by virtue of finishing as runners-up to Real Madrid in Group D, winning three, drawing one and losing two - including a crucial defeat in a winner-takes-all showdown at the Bernabeu on matchday six.
Liverpool and Inter have lifted the European Cup nine times between them, and it is the Reds who boast the better head-to-head record with three wins from four previous meetings.
Benfica (Portugal)
Another of Portugal's 'Big Three' - with Porto already seen off and Sporting representing another last-16 opponent - any club that draws Benfica will need to be wary.
The Eagles finished above Barcelona in Group E to qualify for the last 16 as runners-up behind Bayern Munich, winning two, drawing two and losing two of their six outings.
Liverpool have a storied history with Benfica too, beating them in the third round in both 1978 and 1984 - both years Liverpool went on to lift the trophy, but then being knocked out of the competition by them as defending champions in 2005-06.
Red Bull Salzburg (Austria)
Surely the kindest draw on paper, Red Bull Salzburg have not only made it to the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time, but they are also the first Austrian club to ever make it this far in the competition.
There is no doubt that they are there on merit either; Group G lacked a true giant of the Champions League, but they won half of their games in an evenly-matched group alongside Lille, Sevilla and Wolfsburg.
Despite their relatively short history at this level, Salzburg have met Liverpool before, having been drawn alongside them in the 2019-20 group stage. Liverpool won both matches, but were given a scare in a 4-3 thriller at Anfield, when a certain Erling Braut Haaland announced himself on the scene.
Villarreal (Spain)
Villarreal had to wait longer than anyone else to secure their place in the last 16, with their final group game against Atalanta BC being postponed due to snowy conditions and eventually completed on Thursday night.
The La Liga outfit would say it was worth the wait, though; a ultimately nervy win in Bergamo - when they held off a late fightback to win 3-2 - secured second place in Group F, one point behind Manchester United having won three, drawn one and lost two of their outings.
Liverpool have only previously faced Villarreal in the semi-finals of the 2015-16 Europa League, a tie they won 3-1 on aggregate before going on to lose the final.
body check tags ::
