Opta’s super-computer reveals the Champions League’s expected final group table, with Arsenal now facing dreaded play-off, as two surprise packages make top eight… and will PSG be knocked out?

According to Opta’s supercomputer, the eight teams that automatically qualify for the Champions League League phase are known.

The new format for Europe’s elite club competition is starting to take shape, with all 36 teams having played four of their eight matches.

Teams finishing in the top eight automatically qualify for the last 16 stage, while teams from ninth to 24th compete in an additional play-off round, meaning only the bottom twelve are eliminated.

And according to OptaFor the top eight to qualify automatically, some European heavyweights will be joined by three surprise packages.

The data claims Liverpool will finish top, with Arne Slot’s side having won all four of their matches so far.

But Arsenal will miss out on the top eight and be forced into the play-off round

The Gunners were defeated by Inter Milan on Wednesday and have seven points from four games

The Reds’ most likely points total is 19, although the supercomputer gives them a 10.7 percent chance of winning all eight of their games.

They are joined in the top eight by Inter Milan in second place, Barcelona in fourth, Borussia Dortmund in fifth and Man City in sixth, with these four teams having seen the latter stages of the competition in recent years to reach.

However, Sporting Lisbon – who defeated Man City 4-1 on Tuesday – are tipped to finish third, with Ruben Amorim’s side expected to finish on 17 points, although they could be significantly weakened by the departure of the 39- birthday boy to Manchester United. .

Europa League winners Atalanta are also backed to finish in the top eight, with the Italian team set to join AS Monaco in automatic qualification.

The presence of both teams in the top eight, along with Sporting, would come as a huge shock, while it also means several big hitters will be forced into the play-off round.

Despite winning their first three games, Aston Villa is predicted to finish in ninth place after their disappointing 1-0 defeat to Club Brugge.

Meanwhile, Arsenal – who lost to Inter on Wednesday – are also just missed out on the top eight, although they face Sporting, Monaco, Girona and Dinamo Zagreb in their remaining matches.

Real Madrid, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen were among the favorites for the Champions League at the start of the season.

AS Monaco are backed to automatically qualify for the last 16 stage, which would be a shock

Sporting Lisbon are tipped to finish third, although Ruben Amorim’s departure could weaken them

However, PSG are backed to finish 25th in what would be a disaster for the French giants

But given their mixed results so far, the supercomputer claims they will also be forced to participate in the play-off round.

Elsewhere, PSG’s struggles have been one of the stories of the tournament so far, with the French giants managing just four points in four games, leaving Luis Enrique’s side in 25th place and outside the qualifying zone.

With games against Bayern Munich, Red Bull Salzburg, Manchester City and Stuttgart looming, PSG face a tough task to turn their form around.

And according to the supercomputer, PSG will fail to qualify for the next stage, with Opta predicting they will finish in 25th place, behind the likes of Club Brugge, Dinamo Zagreb, Celtic and Feyenoord.

Meanwhile, French minnows Brest, Lille, Atletico Madrid and Benfica are the other teams tipped to make it to the play-off round.

The new permutations of the