THE new Champions League format could throw up some enthralling ties if a supercomputer’s predictions are anything to go by.

All 36 teams face off at the same time on Wednesday night in the final matches of the league phase.

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The Champions League league phase has been predicted by a supercomputer[/caption]

PA

Manchester City are in line to miss out on the next round[/caption]

Teams will be fighting for the lives with everything up for grabs as those who secure a top eight spot will book an automatic spot in the last 16, the teams placed ninth to 24th head into a play-off round and those from 24th to 36th head straight out of the tournament.

Thanks to the boffins at Bettingexpert.com and their supercomputer BETSiE, we now know what the most likely outcome is of the league phase.

Their supercomputer has simulated the final round of games 100,000 times, taking into account all the necessary data to make the best predictions it can.

And according to their simulations, Manchester City are set to MISS OUT on qualifying for the next round!

The four-in-a-row Premier League champions need to beat Club Brugge and hope other results go their way to finish in the top 24, but the supercomputer thinks that is pretty unlikely to happen.

City are predicted to narrowly miss out, finishing in 25th place.

Liverpool are predicted to finish top of the table, while Arsenal should advance in third spot and Aston Villa have been tipped to sneak into the automatic last 16 places by finishing in eighth place.

With the way that the new Champions League format works, the predicted table means we can look at who would face who in the qualification round and ultimately the last 16.

AP

Liverpool are predicted to top the Champions League league phase[/caption]

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The complicated format means that the seeded top eight will be split into opposite sides of the tournament bracket, i.e. the first and second place sides will be treated equally, and split into one side and the other.

While the sides that finish from 9th to 24th go into a play-off round to join them, with the top eight of this middle section seeded.

They are then put in pairs, for example, 9th and 10th together, 11th and 12th together, and so on.

The duos are then put into fours based on their league finishes and there is then a draw to decide the match-ups from the quartets.

For example, 9th and 10th will play worst qualifiers either 23rd or 24th; 11th or 12th will be drawn against either 21st or 22nd, and so on.

This has allowed SunSport to simulate the play-off draw to show what we could expect in the last 16 of the tournament.

In our randomised draw, Liverpool’s top spot would mean they take on the winner of Juventus vs Celtic in the last 16 – throwing up a tricky tie for Arne Slot’s in-form Reds.

While Arsenal’s third place finish could leave them with the tall task of getting the better of the winner of the play-off tie between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain.

However, they’ll be confident that they could advance past PSG given their 2-0 victory over the Parisians in the league phase.

It won’t be a walk in the park for Aston Villa either with Unai Emery‘s side in line to face the winner of Benfica vs Bayern Munich in the last 16.

Similarly to Arsenal and PSG, Villa have already played – and beaten – Bayern Munich in the league phase and will be buoyed by their previous result over the Bavarians.

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Aston Villa could face Bayern Munich again[/caption]

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Arsenal have a good chance of taking on PSG for a second time[/caption]

SIMON Harris has played down the prospect of a potential trade war between the EU and the US as the Tanaiste claimed: “We can do business with Trump.”

The new Foreign Affairs Minister has also revealed his plan to set up a new talking shop with American companies based in Ireland to try convince them to keep their business here.

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An economic report from Goodbody Stockbrokers today warned that Donald Trump’s economic policies pose the “biggest vulnerability” to the Irish economy.

President Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on EU goods travelling to the US with fears this could encourage American companies based in Ireland to start making their products in the States.

Officials in the Department of Finance fear Donald Trump’s policies will erode Ireland’s bumper corporation tax returns with US multinationals accounting for 83 per cent of our corporation tax.

However, Tanaiste Simon Harris today played down the threat of President Trump’s policies as he believes Ireland and the EU can do business with the new US administration.

Speaking ahead of meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers in Brussels, the Tanaiste said the EU needs to focus on what it is doing to improve trade and investment instead of just focussing on the US.

He said: “It means engaging with President Trump in a way that I think he relates to about the benefits to the United States of America of doing business with the European Union and members states of the EU.

“I would respectfully point out when you look at trade in the round and when you include the issue of services it’s a very different or less stark picture to perhaps how it is somewhat presented in the US.

“So we can do business with the Trump administration. My country has done business with every US administration.

“There will be challenges. There will absolutely be challenges but we’ve got to control what we can control.”

The Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister revealed that he will bring a proposal to Cabinet in the coming weeks to set up a new Trade Consultative Forum.

This body will bring together government officials with businesses – including reps from American firms based here – to enhance the argument of why companies should continue to invest in Ireland.

Harris said: “I want to get people around the table in the broadest sense of the words ‘Team Ireland’ whether you are the government of Ireland, whether you’re investing in Ireland or whether you’re people looking to seek investment in Ireland – I think it’s really important we all work together on trade.

“It’s really important we also listen carefully to what people considering investing in Ireland are saying to us and they are saying we need to see a greater investment in infrastructure in things like water, energy and housing.”

FUND FEARS

Meanwhile, there are concerns that Donald Trump will withdraw $4 million in funding from the US for a mission which helps set up cross community projects between Northern Ireland and the south.

The International Fund for Ireland was set up in 1986 to deliver peace and reconciliation projects and receives payments from the EU, the US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Trump has announced plans to freeze and review all foreign assistance programmes as he believes the US is paying out too much money.

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A VILLAGE train station in the UK is one of the closest to the beach in the country – so no long treks to the seafront.

Carbis Bay Train Station connects tourists to the Cornish seaside village.

Alamy

A seaside village has a train station just steps from the beach[/caption]

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Carbis Bay is a train line that runs along the Cornish coastline[/caption]

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The village hosted the G7 Summit in 2021[/caption]

Having hosted the G7 Summit back in 2021, the village remains a popular tourist hotspot in Cornwall, being near St Ives.

And the station, which opened back in 1877, is one of the closest to the beach.

The route into the village has uninterrupted views of the sea, before arriving at the station.

And just one road over is Carbis Bay itself, which takes just minutes to get to.

One person wrote: “The spot is an absolute gem, with beautiful views to boast about.”

Another praised the “seaside railway” by giving it five stars.

The majority of trains run to and from St Ives and St Erth every 30 minutes.

The Blue Flag beach of Carbis Bay is much calmer than some of it’s nearer ones, so while you won’t catch many surfers, it makes it safer for kids to play in.

Walk along during low tide and you can visit Porth Kidney, as well as the RSPB bird sanctuary,

Other attractions in town include yoga, sculpture and art classes.

While Una restaurant – one of the most popular in town – closed last year, they have their own lido that you can visit when it reopens in April.

And one of the best places to stay is Carbis Bay Hotel, with just 38 rooms.

Having been named the Hotel of the Year by Muddy Stilettos last year, it has been compared to the French Riviera.

As well as rooms, it has beach houses and an award-winning spa, compete with a champagne bar.

The hotel infinity pools also have amazing views of the ocean.

The spa can be visited even if you aren’t staying at the hotel, with day passes around £50.

We’ve rounded up some of Cornwall’s other amazing beaches.

If you want to visit St Ives without the crowds, then there is even a ‘dupe’ of the town.

Sykes Holiday Cottages said: “Cadgwith, a quaint village and fishing port in Cornwall, brings all the charm of St Ives with much less people.”

Here’s everything you can do there.

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Trains run to the station every half an hour[/caption]

A MAJOR boost is set to hit thousands next month with six money changes announced.

However, it’s not all good news with the price of a pint set to rise once again in February.

There will be some benefits seen during the 28 day month that were announced as part of Budget 2025.

There are also some banking changes that will see cashback in the pockets of Irish bill-payers.

And a new instalment credit card payment scheme is also on the cards.

Social Welfare recipients will also see a change to their payment dates next month.

Here are the key February changes you should know:

PINT PRICE RISE

There’s bad news for anyone hoping to enjoy a pint after dry January, as it’s going to be much harder on the pocket.

This will push the cost of a pint in most Dublin pubs over €7.

Diageo will increase the price of some of their beverages by 6 per cent excluding VAT from February 3.

This will hit Guinness, Harp, Smithwicks and Hophouse 13.

ELECTRICITY CREDIT

It was announced as part of Budget 2025 that every household in Ireland would be receiving two lump sums towards their electricity.

This payment is automatically applied to your energy bill in the form of two €250 amounts.

The first payment was made in the last few weeks of 2024.

The next lump sum amount will be paid out to Irish customers before the end of February.

SOCIAL WELFARE PAYMENT DATES

Social Welfare recipients will see a change to their payment dates in February as a result of the new February bank holiday.

Payments will not be made on Monday February 3 due to this bank holiday.

Child Benefit and other payments will be made available from Friday January 31 instead.

BANKING CHANGES

A number of banking changes were made in late January, with customers starting to see the changes throughout February.

Last week on January 23, AIB slashed their saving and deposit rates.

They have reduced the rate on two of their fixed-term deposit accounts by 0.25 per cent.

AIB have also reduced the minimum amount required to open one of its fixed-term accounts to €5,000, down from €15,000.

And last week PTSB began offering 2 per cent cashback on monthly mortgage repayments to their existing mortgage customers.

The move could see customers receive €30 back a month on a monthly mortgage repayment of €1,500.

And it will be available until 2030.

REVOLUT CREDIT CARDS

Another change Irish people will reap the benefits of next month is the introduction of Revolut’s credit card repayment feature.

Repayments of three, six, nine and 12 months are now available at a lower rate than their standard annual percentage rate.

These repayment schemes for eligble purchases can be set up in the app.

And Irish spenders will not incur any extra charges for using the feature.

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There is a key payment date change[/caption]

A “BEAUTIFUL” home has hit the Irish market for €299,000 – and it comes with big perks.

The detached home is located at 80 Cúl Rua, Upper Brown Street in Portlaw, Co. Waterford.

daft.ie/Brophy Cusack

daft.ie/Brophy Cusack

daft.ie/Brophy Cusack

The house is perfect for a family, with four bedrooms and three bathrooms.

Upon entering the property, guests are welcomed by a bright and spacious entrance hall.

It has wooden flooring with white painted walls and the walls are tastefully decorated.

Just off the hallway is a beautifully decorated sitting room.

The carpeted room has a feature fireplace and a large window.

Also on the ground floor is a wc which is fully tiled and fitted with a wc, whb and shower.

To the rear of the home is a stunning fitted kitchen, with black tiled flooring and white cabinets.

The built-in features have a black marble countertop, and the room is fitted with a fridge, oven and washing machine.

Just off the kitchen is a dining room, with a large dinner table and wooden flooring.

There is a utility room which is plumbed for all appliances.

Upstairs, there are four generously sized bedrooms.

There is a master bedroom with an ensuite which is fitted with tiling, a wc, whb and shower.

The main family bathroom is described as “spacious” in the listing, and is also fully fitted.

The home is designed in a modern way, with features such as oil-fired central heating and PVC windows.

To the back, there is a large paved garden.

There is also a decking area which is perfect for hosting friends and family.

There is also a shed towards the end of the garden, which could be used for storage or turned into a home office.

To the front of the property is a spacious paved garden, with room for several cars to park.

The property has a large black gate and walls for privacy.

The Cul Rua Estate in Portlaw is a highly sought after and coveted location in Waterford.

It is located in the centre of the charming town, with a range of amenities.

The local amenities include supermarkets, pubs, a Heritage Centre and churches.

The town’s standout attraction is the Curraghmore Estate.

This historic manor is located on the edge of the village.

The manor and surrounding site measure around 40 hectares, and is open to visitors from March to October.

Waterford City is just 19km away, making commuting easy.

daft.ie/Brophy Cusack

daft.ie/Brophy Cusack

daft.ie/Brophy Cusack

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