European Clubs Await Champions League draw

Holders Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal will learn their Champions League fate at 1100 GMT on Friday when the last 16 draw is held.

The group winners from the last stage will play the runners-up, other than teams from their own pool or nation.

United and Liverpool will hope to avoid Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

Arsenal and Chelsea, who came second in their groups, could face the likes of Barcelona or Juventus, and will also play the second leg away from home.

Last season, three of the English teams made it through to the semi-finals.

United won last season's competition, beating Chelsea 6-5 on penalties in Moscow after the pair had been locked at 1-1 after extra-time.

The Red Devils have made strong progress again this season, and manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes his side are better placed to retain the trophy than they were after their previous triumph in 1999.

Chelsea, meanwhile, made hard work of reaching the last 16 - they went into the last group game against CFR Cluj still needing points to ensure progress and endured some nervy moments before securing a 2-1 win.

Liverpool managed to top their group with an away win against PSV Eindhoven, and manager Rafael Benitez is delighted his side will be at Anfield for the second leg of their tie.

England's other representatives, Arsenal, came second to Porto in their group and now face a potentially more difficult draw.

The Gunners, along with Chelsea, could be drawn against Spanish giants Barcelona, who topped their group and scored 18 goals along the way.

The two London clubs will also be keen to avoid Italian side Juventus, who are unbeaten in the competition so far.

Group winners:

Barcelona
Bayern Munich
Juventus
Liverpool
Manchester United
Panathinaikos
Porto
Roma

Runners-up:

Arsenal
Atletico Madrid
Chelsea
Inter Milan
Lyon
Real Madrid
Sporting Lisbon
Villarrea