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Liverpool will NOT play in a play-off to qualify for next season's Champions League because of UEFA confirmed a restructure to the Champions League earlier this season.

The club's fourth-placed finish in last season's Premier League meant they had to navigate a play-off in August - against Hoffenheim - to qualify for the competition proper.

But under new rules sanctioned ahead of the 2018/19 season, the top four from England - as well as Spain, Italy and Germany - will gain direct qualification into the group stages.

Liverpool finished fourth with a 4-0 win against Brighton to seal their place in the 2018/19 tournament.

The Champions League will also now have two new kick-off times, with the traditional 7.45pm kick off being replaced by 5.55pm and 8pm.

The news comes as a boost to the Reds, who will no longer have to face a play-off in order to gain entry into the group stages.

The rules for automatic qualification read:

There will now be 26 teams automatically qualified.

For 2018/19 they will be...

UEFA Champions League holders (1)

UEFA Europa League holders (1)

Top four from associations ranked 1st to 4th: Spain, Germany, England, Italy (16)

Top two from associations ranked 5th and 6th: France, Russia (4)

Champions of associations ranked 7th to 10th: Portugal, Ukraine, Belgium, Turkey (4)

The 2019 Champions League final will be played in Madrid, Spain, on June 1.