Champions League knockout stages is where it will count for Liverpool and Tottenham

Both Liverpool and Tottenham struggled in the Champions League group stages, but it will be their performances in the knockouts that really matter.

Getting out of this group was never going to be easy for Liverpool and Tottenham, drawn in with established European names such as Barcelona, PSG, Inter Milan and Napoli. However few could have predicted the strange turns their group stage journeys have taken.

Nonetheless both teams are through to the knockout stages and Maurico Pochettino and Jurgen Klopp will be hopefully that it will be here where their respective sides hit top form.

Liverpool dramatically disposed of Paris Saint Germain at Anfield in their opening group stage match. However, three consecutive away defeats that yielded just five shots on target, one of those being James Milner’s penalty in Paris, left Liverpool on the ropes in this group.

Thankfully, Jurgen Klopp’s side impervious home record, where they have now won their 19th European match since defeat to Real Madrid in October 2014 saved their bacon and despite everything, they are into the knockout stages.

For Tottenham, it has been much of the same form from their domestic campaign, the main difference being that they haven’t been able to grind out the results like they have done in the Premier League.

Instead, the reappearance of Spurs “bottler” label cost Pochettino’s team in matches against Inter and PSV where, having taken the lead, Tottenham failed to secure three points and instead dropped seven points in their opening three European matches.

After their heaviest European home defeat against Barcelona, roles reversed and three late goals aswell as Inter failing to seal their place sooner, have dragged Tottenham into the knockout stages for a second consecutive season.

The detractors will have plenty of ammunition to write off both sides from making any serious ground in Europe this season, however, in the grand scheme of things, the main objective of the group stages is to qualify, not to play well.

Jurgen Klopp’s squad need only look to their performances last season, where they also secured Round of 16 qualification on the final matchday, in a much weaker group one might add.

Tottenham’s impressive group stage showings last season, including a 3-1 win over defending champions Real Madrid, ultimately counted for nothing when they went out to Juventus in the next round.

On the subject of the European champions, they have finished runners up twice in their last three group stage campaigns and have won the competition each of the last three seasons.

In contrast, Barcelona have topped their group for the last 12 seasons, they have only won the tournament four times from those 12 group stage wins.

Though it doesn’t justify the English sides performances in Europe so far, it does further demonstrate how little group stage form matters in the long run.

The real fun begins in February and with both Liverpool and Tottenham having finished runners-up in their groups, they will likely face tough opponents in the round of 16.

With this in mind, having to fight for their place in the knockout rounds as they have done might stand to both Liverpool and Tottenham in the long run.