This group stage is rather meaningless
I think it matters a lot to finish in top 8. Besides that I agree
Not having to play an extra KO fixture is likely a big deal, and there are going to be a lot of strong teams in that 9-26 tier.
What I don’t know (and another reason I hate the format) is what the incentive to finish 1st is compared to finishing 8th.
If LFC win against Madrid and get to 15 points, they probably don’t have to go strong in their last three games and that’s where they can find some rest. That’s where I think the biggest difference will be. I think 15 points probably keeps you safely in the top 8, so the sooner you do that the sooner you can take start incorporating some rest