There’s topping the league stage.
And then there’s what you get for it.
Last season, Liverpool finished top and were rewarded with a brutal knockout tie against eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain.
It felt harsh at the time.
It looks even harsher now.
Because this season, Arsenal have topped the league stage — and their projected path appears significantly kinder.
Liverpool’s “Reward” Last Season
Finishing first should, in theory, protect you.
Instead, Liverpool were thrown straight into a heavyweight clash.
PSG didn’t just knock them out.
They went on to win the entire competition.
So effectively, Liverpool’s reward for excellence in the group stage was facing the strongest team in Europe earlier than expected.
That’s not bad performance.
That’s brutal timing.
Arsenal’s Route This Year
Fast forward twelve months.
Arsenal finish top.
And while no Champions League tie is easy, their bracket lacks an immediate collision with reigning champions or serial European winners.
There’s no early PSG.
No instant Real Madrid.
No stacked semi-final gauntlet.
For two teams achieving the same accomplishment — topping the league stage — the difference in “reward” feels stark.
Is It Just Luck?
Of course, draws are random.
There’s no conspiracy.
But it does highlight something uncomfortable:
Topping the league stage does not guarantee protection from the competition’s strongest side.
Liverpool found that out the hard way.
Arsenal, this year, appear to have benefited from better fortune.
Fine Margins At The Top
In knockout football, timing matters as much as quality.
Draw PSG too early? You’re out.
Draw them later? Maybe you’ve built momentum.
Avoid them entirely? Path opens up.
Last season, Liverpool were unlucky.
This season, Arsenal may have been fortunate.
And sometimes in Europe, that difference is everything.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
The Kopite View 
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