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Sixteen teams will discover their opponents in the Champions League knockout draw on Friday at 11:00 GMT.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur are already in the hat, with Newcastle on course to reach the last 16 after a 6-1 win over Qarabag in their play-off first leg.

The eight winners of the two-legged knockout phase play-offs join the top eight sides from the league-phase table in the draw.

Friday's draw will also allocate a side of the bracket for all teams, meaning they will know who they could potentially meet in the quarter-final, semi-final and final.

Last-16 first legs will take place on either 10 or 11 March, with the reverse fixture scheduled for 17-18 March.

The Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary will host the 2025-26 final on 30 May.

The eight winners of the play-offs will meet the top-eight finishers from the league phase.

From this point onward the competition adopts a knockout format, with each fixture other than the final contested over two legs.

As with the play-offs, teams' final ranking in the league phase will influence seeding in the last 16, with seeded sides - those that finished in the top eight of the league - being given the advantage of playing second legs at home.

This is the first season that the position in which teams have placed in the league phase will also influence seeding for the quarter-final and semi-finals.

Teams finishing first to fourth at the end of the league phase will be seeded for the quarter-finals, and therefore given the home advantage in their quarter-final tie second legs.

The two sides who finish top and runner-up in the league will also be seeded for the semi-finals, earning them the benefit of playing the second leg of their semis at home should they reach that stage.

If a seeded team does not progress to the quarter or semi-finals, the team that knocks them out will inherit their seeding position.

Clubs already know who the opponents they could face in the Champions League last 16.

Top seeds Arsenal will be drawn against one of Olympiakos, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta.

Liverpool and Tottenham, who finished third and fourth respectively in the league phase, will meet either Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge, Galatasaray or Juventus.

Manchester City will be drawn against one of Bodo/Glimt, Inter Milan, Real Madrid or Benfica.

Chelsea will take on either Qarabag, Newcastle, Monaco or Paris St-Germain.

If Newcastle do progress through the play-offs, they will face either Chelsea or Barcelona.

Tottenham are in a "perilous position", says journalist Rory Smith. Winless in the league since 28 December, sit 16th in the table, four points above the bottom three.

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton told Monday Night Club he thinks Spurs have some favourable fixtures coming up as they bid to improve on Igor Tudor's first match in charge - Sunday's home drubbing at the hands of Arsenal.

Sutton, however, is uncomfortable with the reputation Tudor has for being good at managing in the short term, stating: "I can't quite work out whether that means he's a good manager or not. If you go through as many clubs as he has, is there something fundamentally wrong with him?"

The Observer's football correspondent Smith added: "I cannot stress how bad Tottenham's home form is.

"Whether Tudor's a great coach I don't know, but he might have a future in PR. He's dressed himself up as someone who saves you from relegation and wanders off. If you go back, I'm not sure that's why he went into all those clubs.

"He seems to last not that long. I'm not sure that's always been the plan.

"Whenever any manager raises fitness I just don't buy it. It's nonsense. This idea that Thomas Frank was letting them wander in at 11am is nonsense - they'd have been perfectly fit."

On-loan Hearts striker James Wilson was promoted to Tottenham Hotspur's bench after Igor Tudor noted the 18-year-old's touch and movement with their under-21 side as the new head coach looked for reinforcements against Arsenal with nine first-team players missing. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Fulham are looking to complete the league double over Spurs for just the second time in their history, after the 2003-04 Premier League campaign.

After winning seven consecutive away league games against Fulham between 2010 and 2023, Spurs have now lost their last two at Craven Cottage by an aggregate score of 5-0.

Fulham have won three of their last four Premier League games against Spurs (D1), as many as they had in their previous 26 (D6 L17).

Fulham have only won four of their last 18 Premier League matches in the month of March (D1 L13) but two of those four wins were at home to Tottenham, in 2024 (3-0) and 2025 (2-0).

Tottenham Hotspur are the only side in the Premier League without a victory in 2026 so far, failing to win any of their nine matches (D4 L5). It’s only the fourth time they’ve gone through January and February without a league win, along with 1935 (7 games), 1994 (7) and 1999 (6).

Since Christmas, 12 of Fulham’s 14 Premier League goals have been scored in the second half of matches. Their only first half goal in their last seven games was an own goal by Everton’s Vitalii Mykolenko, with Fulham players having 42 shots and accumulating an xG of 4.45 without scoring in the past seven first halves.

Tottenham are winless in their last nine Premier League matches (D4 L5) – only once have they gone 10 without victory, doing so between January and March 1994 under Osvaldo Ardiles.

Tottenham played a 3-5-2 formation in their 4-1 defeat to Arsenal last time out in the Premier League – they have won just one of their last 10 league games when playing three at the back (D3 L6) and none of their last six (D2 L4).

Raúl Jiménez has scored the opening goal of the game in 32 of the 61 Premier League matches he has scored in (52.5%), including in four of Fulham’s last 11 games. Among players to score in 50+ games, only James Beattie has scored the opener in a higher share of matches he found the net (62.3%, 48/77).

Spurs lost their first Premier League game under Igor Tudor, a 4-1 defeat to Arsenal; only Martin Jol has lost his first two in charge of Spurs, doing so in November 2004. No manager in Premier League history has conceded 4+ goals in each of his first two games.

Holders Chelsea will host either Tottenham Hotspur or London City Lionesses in the Women's FA Cup quarter-finals.

WSL 2 side Birmingham City welcome WSL leaders Manchester City, while Brighton will travel to 14-time FA Cup winners Arsenal.

The final tie is WSL 2 leaders Charlton Athletic against WSL strugglers Liverpool.

The fixtures are set to be played on Sunday, 5 April.

Spurs and the Lionesses are playing the remaining fifth-round tie on Monday evening.

Six-time winners Chelsea reached the quarters-final on Sunday after beating Manchester United 2-1, thanks to an extra-time goal from defender Naomi Girma.

We asked for your views on the debate around Tottenham's dwindling 'big-six' status, and whether either Aston Villa or Newcastle has a case to take their place.

Here are some of your comments:

Spurs fans

Dave: In recent years, our being viewed as one of the big six has become increasingly ridiculous. History and a nice stadium simply isn't enough. We've had some interesting managers and some good players - but despite that have remained a consistently mediocre team. If the owners don't get VERY serious about significant investment in our squad very soon, I think we're doomed. Relegation would be heartbreaking but it's where we are. I'm 72 and have been a fan since I was six. It's getting hard to remain hopeful.

Colin: Have we ever been a top-six club? Maybe we expect too much from our team - we just do not have the financial resources to get a top-six team together, let alone a top-four one. I am worried that we are battling to stay up this year - we really need to win at least four more games and the way we are playing I just cannot see that! We are a long way off top six.

Chris: Agree with Wayne Rooney's comments - this team is average at best and has a poor attitude. I don't blame Thomas Frank at all, I genuinely feel sorry for him and now we're seeing it all play out again with Igor Tudor. Are we going to blame him too? No manager is going to fix this mess until the board shows some real ambition. We need four or five proven, high-quality signings. There are also deeper, structural problems that have been there for years. Championship next season.

Brian: Yeah we are still a big-six team. Any club with as many players injured as we have would be struggling. It would be a different story with all players fit - so, yes.

Aston Villa fans

Carl: In the past three seasons, Spurs have been in the top six once, flirting with relegation last year and again this year. Meanwhile, Villa have been in the top six twice in the past three years and are firmly there again this year. Spurs shouldn't be mentioned in the 'big-six' conversation any more.

Paul: Yes of course Villa are a top-six club. Look at Unai Emery's record - a top-class European manager and sold-out games at a great stadium. Only PSR stops them being even more successful. Tottenham are nowhere near being called a top-six club.

James: Villa have always been a big-six club. Spurs' inclusion was always utterly baffling, and based purely on London bias. They have a big stadium? Wow. It's soulless, and they were being considered as part of the big six before that was even built, so that's not it. Villa are huge. Football royalty.

Daniel: All day long Villa are bigger than Spurs. They have a better stadium - that's it. Villa would be even bigger and would definitely be challenging for titles if they could spend. If Unai could buy who he wanted, Villa would have won the league this year. In reality, we've lost our midfield and are still competing better than Spurs. Anyone who think Spurs are top six are deluded or a Spurs fan.

Alan: I don't think Villa, as a club or the fans, could care less about whether they're regarded as a 'big-six' club. Let the results speak for themselves. When Villa Park is redeveloped to accommodate over 50,000, then maybe they'll be viewed differently.

Newcastle fans

Simon: Spurs still receive disproportionate media coverage and were part of the ill-fated Super League. Their on-field performances have been enough for Newcastle or Villa to replace them. The idea of the 'big six' can become the 'big five', neither of the aforementioned clubs need it.

Adam: We're realistically down to a 'big three' of regular Premier League title contenders. At this point, Newcastle don't have the financial clout to compete at that level. It's probably a discussion that is worth revisiting in a few years' time though.

Tom: Newcastle's average finishing position over the past four seasons is fifth. The 'big six' is nonsense anyway. Little Tottenham have only been placed there by the media. Newcastle should definitely replace them and Aston Villa should replace Manchester United, who were also in a relegation battle last season and aren't playing in Europe this season.

Sean: Newcastle and Aston Villa have both broken into the top six over the past few years. Spurs change their manager regularly and are nowhere near the top six any more. Newcastle should be a top-six team, just in front of Villa because of winning a cup.

Other teams being worse is the "only reason" Tottenham will survive this season, says former defender Stephen Kelly.

Spurs are joint bottom of the Premier League form table across the past six games alongside 20th-placed Wolves, and have not picked up three points in domestic competition since December.

It is form that saw head coach Thomas Frank lose his job, and has given interim boss Igor Tudor a tough task to stay away from the relegation zone they currently sit four points above.

With games coming up against Fulham, Crystal Palace and Liverpool - all of whom won over the weekend - it is tough to see where much-needed wins will come from.

"You look at the fixtures coming and you feel like they are ones they could absolutely lose," Kelly told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"The worrying part is the gulf in class between Spurs and Arsenal [on Sunday]. It was just enormous. You are looking at it and going 'we are so far off that side'. They were so far off Arsenal in everything – pace, power, passing – and there was just a sense of dejection.

"They need a mentality to be able to perform at home. If you are struggling in front of your own fans and you don't have the mental strength to be able to turn that around at home and get them back onside, because if you can get back to winning some games that can make a huge difference, but it just doesn't feel like that is going to change between now and the end of the season.

"I don't really want to admit it, and still feel there are teams that are really poor and won't get themselves out of it [relegation], but the only reason Spurs will be OK is that other teams will do worse. Which is not a great thing to be talking about but is probably going to be the case, but it is not looking very good at all."

Tottenham would be naive to believe they are a top-six team, says Wayne Rooney following Spurs' 4-1 defeat by Arsenal on Sunday.

"Tottenham are just not a good team," the former Manchester United forward told The Wayne Rooney Show.

"You talk about them being a big-six club, but if you go through the squad and players man-for-man, they're probably in the position they should be.

"It's obviously a big club with a nice, new stadium and a nice training ground, but I just don't think the players are good enough to compete at the top end of the Premier League.

"Nottingham Forest have a better squad than them and they're in a similar position in the league so, I think they're being a bit naive, whether that's the fans or the club, in thinking they're a top-six team - they're not, they're miles off it."

But Rooney does believe Spurs will avoid relegation this season, despite being four points off West Ham in the drop zone.

"I think they'll be fine, I don't think they'll get relegated but they're down there, just like they were last season and a little bit closer this season. But I think they're just about good enough not to go down.

"Tottenham over the past 15 years have been towards the top end of the table and they've spent a lot of money on the stadium and players so if they get relegated, it's a big worry for them."

Rooney's top-six comments come a fortnight after former manager Ange Postecoglou also criticised Tottenham for not acting like a "big club" while he was their coach.

What do you think about Tottenham's big-six status? Is it in jeopardy from the likes of Aston Villa and Newcastle or is it too established to be questioned?

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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.

Here are some of your comments:

Spurs fans

Alan: Put in whatever manager you like, the problem is the mediocre players purchased who are not Premier League quality. We seem to buy anyone to plug the gap but it will never work - we need class players like we've had in the past, but we won't attract them in the Championship.

Dan: What I expected really, much of the same from the past two seasons. Moments of hope and positive flashes, but mainly negative football and silly decisions. I doubt even Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp could make this current group of players perform well. If you had a team of workers in an office job who turned up each week and spent their day just mooching about the office, occasionally tapping some keys of the computer but producing nothing, they'd be sacked for failing to do what they're employed to do. Spurs are literally doing the equivalent of this on the pitch.

Tristen: Playing three at the back is suicidal. Playing too many players out of their natural positions is also comical. This game was a free hit as fans weren't expecting a win, but a proper system and structure is the minimum we should have got out this game. On this system and style, we are favourites for relegation.

Fran: Shocking display from Spurs... Archie Gray too weak, Djed Spence keeps losing the ball. No real fight. Can't see a way out of it.

Arsenal fans

Giso: Arsenal's mentality will make them win the title because they played against Spurs like nothing went wrong in the previous game.

Vince: A great result but let's not get carried away. This was a Spurs team missing key players through injury and unsurprisingly clunky in possession. Arsenal, meanwhile, were allowed to play their usual game - which they weren't allowed to at Brentford and Wolves and see what happened there. Still, it's a brilliant confidence booster for Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres and renews that all-important belief that this might be the season Arsenal cross the finish line first.

Helen: What's the earliest St Totteringham's day could be this year?