When is the Champions League group stage draw?

As the draw for the Champions League group stage nears, we run through the vital details for British clubs.

With Liverpool leading 2-1 against Hoffenheim going into their play-off round second leg at Anfield, and Celtic going to Astana with a healthy 5-0 lead, it looks like Britain will have six teams in the group stages for Europe's elite competition this season.

Here, we run through those complicated seeds and pots, and all the key dates for your diary.

When is the draw

The draw will take place in Monaco on August 24, with the ceremony scheduled to start at 5pm.

The pots

Pot 1 consists of reigning Champions League winners Real Madrid and the domestic title holders of the top seven countries outside of La Liga. That means Barcelona will be in Pot 2.

The make-up of Pots 2, 3 and 4 will depend on the play-off round second leg results, but it is expected that Liverpool would be in Pot 3 and Celtic in Pot 4.

Chelsea will be in Pot 1, Manchester United and Manchester City will be in seeding Pot 2, while Tottenham could be in Pot 2 or 3, depending on second-leg results.

No teams from the same country can be drawn together

If the favourites to progress were to live up to their tag, this is how the four pots would look on August 24...

Dates

• Matchday 1: September 12 and 13
• Matchday 2: September 26 and 27
• Matchday 3: October 17 and 18
• Matchday 4: October 31 and November 1
• Matchday 5: November 21 and 22
• Matchday 6: December 5 and 6
• Round of 16, first leg: February 13 and 14, February 20 and 21
• Round of 16, second leg: March 6 and 7, March 13 and 14
• Quarter-final, first leg: April 3 and 4
• Quarter-final, second leg: April 10 and 11
• Semi-final, first leg: April 24 and 25
• Semi-final, second leg: May 1 and 2
• Final: May 26

Future draw dates

• Round of 16: December 11
• Quarter-final: March 16, 2018
• Semi-final and final: April 13, 2018