"They are the best. These are the champions"...well not quite yet.
The draw for the Champions League round of 16, along with the Europa League's play-off round, have taken place and created some stonking ties involving some of the Premier League's finest. Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham and Manchester United all learnt their fate.
Jurgen Klopp's men face Real Madrid in a re-match of last year's final in the most eye-catching tie, with Tottenham tackling AC Milan, Chelsea battling Borussia Dortmund and City facing RB Leipzig.
If the Merseysiders' draw was bad, United's is a nightmare with the hardest possible in Barcelona their penalty for failing to top their group. Now we know the draw, we asked our writers how they thought England's biggest clubs will get on.
JOIN IN THE DEBATE: How do you think Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City, Spurs and Man United will do? Let us know here
John Cross
Liverpool have got themselves a dream draw - and a nightmare at the same time.
Jurgen Klopp’s men are unquestionably the team most at risk from an early Champions League exit after being paired with Real Madrid. It is a rematch of last season’s final and, with Liverpool short of the sort of form that carried them to Paris, it will be a tough ask but also an opportunity for revenge.
Real Madrid are something special when it comes to the Champions League and will take some stopping in the last 16. But the other ties do look winnable for the Premier League teams. Manchester City have got a super draw against RB Leipzig, a team they should cruise past.
Chelsea have a tough one against Borussia Dortmund when Jude Bellingham will get another chance to showcase his amazing talent. Tottenham have got a tough looking tie with AC Milan. But this is not the Milan of last season we are talking about. They have been beset by injuries, were well below their best in their Group with Chelsea and Spurs can get through.
Manchester United have got a Champions League tie in the Europa League - and I fancy Barcelona to knock them out. Barcelona are a far cry from the glory days… but still have a glamour that United may struggle to overcome.
Andy Dunn
Well, the owners of the Premier League’s Big Six wanted a European Super League … and now they have got one in February and March.
And when the knockout stages of the Champions League and Europa League kick off, we will find out if claims of English supremacy are an exaggeration. I believe they are.
On current form, Real Madrid will have too much for Liverpool in their Champions League tie and, in the Europa League, Barcelona will be too slick for Manchester United , who are very much a work in progress under Erik ten Hag.
The Spurs -Milan and Chelsea -Borussia Dortmund contests are simply too close to call but, in their present form, Graham Potter’s side are hard to back.
Antonio Conte should have the nous to navigate his way past Milan but the only near-certainty for Premier League clubs is that Manchester City will take care of RB Leipzig as they have another crack at winning that elusive Champions League title.
Neil McLeman
The worst possible draw for Jurgen Klopp for both their history and the strength of the Real squad. The defending champions have beaten Liverpool three times in the last six years - including two finals - and are coached by European Cup legend Carlo Ancelotti. At least it will not be staged in Paris.
AC Milan have won this tournament seven times but are only playing in the knockout stages for the first time in nine years. Chelsea beat them 5-0 in aggregate in the group stages and with Heung-min Son and Richarlison back up front in February, Spurs should go through. This tie has extra spice with Antonio Conte a former Inter Milan coach.
By contrast to Liverpool, favourites City have been handed a favourable route to the last eight. The Germans have in-form French striker Christopher Nkunku - who has scored six in five - but they sit sixth in the Bundesliga and City will go through.
Jude Bellingham should have starred at the World Cup by the time of this tie but the Dortmund midfielder will get another chance to display his worth to top Premier League teams. The Germans have not gone further than the last eight since reaching the 2012-13 final under former boss Klopp and Chelsea have a much stronger squad.
A battle royal between two struggling giants, although Barca are back at the top of La Liga before Real Madrid play tonight. For all their financial woes, Xavi can still send out a forward line including Robert Lewandowski, Ousmane Dembele, Ferran Torres and Raphinha and will have too much firepower for the fragile United defence.
Rich Jones
Liverpool's Champions League campaign is more important than ever with their Premier League top four hopes in the balance - but drawing Real Madrid is a nightmare scenario.
It's hard to see a way that Liverpool can get the better of the side that beat them in last year's final, particularly given some of Real Madrid's young stars are improving at a rapid rate. Their only hope is that the Anfield factor does the business over a two-legged affair. You can never write the Reds off in Europe, but this could be a step too far for a side that has dramatically dropped off.
Manchester City should have few problems against Leipzig, and I fully expect them to cruise into the quarter-finals before the pressure really ramps up.
For me, Dortmund vs Chelsea and AC Milan vs Tottenham are two of the most fascinating ties of the round. Both Spurs and Chelsea are good enough to progress but have frailties which could be exposed at tough away grounds. The margins will be tight, but I wouldn't be surprised to see one of the London clubs get dumped out.
In the Europa League, Manchester United vs Barcelona is a mouth-watering tie. I'd have Barcelona as favourites, but it could be that the stakes higher for United, who will see the competition as a back-door route into the Champions League whilst Barcelona are focused on the LaLiga title race.
Darren Wells
The standout tie of the Champions League draw is undoubtedly Liverpool's clash vs Real Madrid - and one which could go either way.
Liverpool dominated the final in May but still came out as losers and have looked a different team since. They will need a big performance over both legs to ensure they progress, and much will depend on how they return after the World Cup. But the Reds are always dangerous when they have a score to settle.
Meanwhile, Manchester City should breeze past RB Leipzig while Antonio Conte can use his experience to help Tottenham see off AC Milan, though Chelsea's indifferent form could see them come unstuck against Borussia Dortmund.
Manchester United's clash with Barcelona is another classic in the making, but Xavi's side should have enough to send the underperforming Red Devils packing.
Freddie Keighley
The Premier League might be the most competitive division in Europe, but does it boast the best teams?
We will soon have a better idea of the answer to that question after a Champions League draw which produced many a tricky last-16 tie for the English quartet. Manchester City are likely the only club of the four to be over the moon with their match-up, against RB Leipzig.
Pep Guardiola's side will be hot favourites to reach the quarter-finals, whereas Liverpool are on the other end of the spectrum, facing an enormous task to eliminate Real Madrid, their conquerors in last season's final. Chelsea will also have a tough time of it against a Jude Bellingham-inspired Borussia Dortmund, while the two legs between Tottenham and Italian champions AC Milan will be closely-fought affairs.
In a season like no other, do not be surprised if only one Premier League side reaches the last eight. Certainly, Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs will need to improve significantly in the New Year to be confident of advancing.
Spare a thought for Manchester United , too, who have been drawn against Barcelona in the Europa League. If the Red Devils play like they did against Aston Villa on Sunday, Robert Lewandowski will have the tie wrapped up after the first leg.
Daniel Orme
There is no doubt that Liverpool are in for the toughest time of things when the Champions League returns next year. The Reds are set to come up against last season’s final foes Real Madrid in the last-16 and whilst the Spanish side aren’t in glistening form, their experience at the top table of European football puts them in prime position to progress.
That is not to suggest that the other English clubs have an easy time of things. Chelsea come up against a Borussia Dortmund side who are struggling to get together momentum but are certainly still capable on their day.
Tottenham on the other hand come up against Serie A champions AC Milan which will certainly be a test. Manchester City look to have been handed the easiest draw as they come up against RB Leipzig and will be hopeful of Erling Haaland extending his electric Champions League form.
Across the city, Manchester United have to be considered having been handed a nightmare tie against Barcelona in the Europa League playoff round. Whilst the Red Devils have not been too convincing this season, neither have the Catalan giants - particularly in Europe - so Erik ten Hag will be hopeful of his side progressing.
Nathan Ridley
If the Champions League draw for the round of 16 told us anything, it's that Manchester City will go further than any other English team this season.
Liverpool's unsteady rear guard will have to seriously shape up between now and February to avoid being terrorised by Real Madrid, who'll know a second leg at the Bernabeu weighs tie even more haviour in their favour.
As for Chelsea , Graham Potter is already on shaky ground and a European run won't be top of his priority list. Borussia Dortmund rarely make it deep into the competition, though, giving the Blues a chance to extend their impressive Champions League record in recent years.
Tottenham Hotspur won't be overly confident besting the Italian champions, especially given Antonio Conte's dismal Champions League record. Although AC Milan's resurgence is yet to shine through on the European stage, don't let the Rossoneri's drubbing at Stamford Bridge last month fool you, as they were decimated by injuries and should show English football what they're all about come February.
Which leaves City as the only firm favourites to progress in a campaign which might - might - finally be their year, even factoring in RB Leipzig's turnaround under Marco Rose.
And in the Europa League's glamour tie, the two European heavyweights will still be licking their wounds after dismal group stages. The favourites for this could flip 10 times between now and February, but Barcelona's sheer firepower should be enough to oust an under-construction Manchester United .
