Key Highlights
- All six Premier League clubs are in the top eight at the halfway stage of the league phase.
- Arsenal and Liverpool have strong records but face tough challenges to secure automatic qualification places.
- Newcastle United, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur all have varying chances based on their current form.
- The race for the top eight spots is close, with only four points separating fourth-placed Manchester City and 21st-placed Bayer Leverkusen.
Fast Start: Six English Clubs in Top Eight
The 2025/26 Champions League has seen a strong performance from Premier League clubs so far. At the halfway stage of the league phase, all six English teams occupy positions within or close to the top eight places. This early success has raised questions about whether every English side could secure automatic qualification for the knockout rounds.
Arsenal: Dominant Form
As one of the favorite sides in the competition, Arsenal have been impressive with a 100% record and zero goals conceded after four matches. Their upcoming fixtures against Club Brugge and FC Kairat will provide a better test, but the club’s dominance has made it difficult for other teams to catch up. Matches against Inter Milan and Bayern Munich will be crucial in evaluating their form ahead of the knockout rounds.
Liverpool: European Form
Despite a rocky patch domestically, Liverpool have performed well in Europe. Their victory over Real Madrid has seen them move into eighth place at the halfway point. The upcoming match against Inter Milan is significant as it will determine their form going into the knockout rounds. Matches with PSV Eindhoven and Marseille follow before a final group stage game against Qarabag.
Manchester City: Perfect Record
Man City have maintained a perfect record in Europe, despite only drawing away to AS Monaco in one of their matches. With key fixtures against Bayer Leverkusen, Galatasaray, and Bodo/Glimt left, they are almost certain to secure a place in the top 24 teams but will need to stay focused on maintaining form for automatic qualification.
Chelsea: Struggling Domestic Form
Chelsea have struggled domestically, sitting just two points off Liverpool. However, their European campaign has seen them perform well with positive results against Ajax and Benfica. A win against Barcelona is crucial as it could define the Blues’ league phase campaign. Matches against Atalanta and Pafos follow before a challenging fixture away to Napoli.
Tottenham Hotspur: Recent Slump
Tottenham’s recent form has been mixed, with disappointing draws against Monaco and Bodo/Glimt. Their win over Copenhagen provided some respite, but they are still within reach of the top eight. The upcoming match against Paris Saint-Germain is critical as it could determine their fate in the league phase. Home fixtures against Slavia Praha and a more difficult match against Borussia Dortmund follow before an away game against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Newcastle United: Flying High
Despite some struggles domestically, Newcastle have performed well in Europe. Winning three matches out of four has seen them rise to sixth place in the league phase table. Their upcoming fixtures against Marseille, Leverkusen, and PSV will be crucial as they look to secure a top eight spot.
Care must be taken not to slip into the form that saw them drop down to 13th in their domestic league.
The race for automatic qualification places is intense, with only four points separating fourth-placed Manchester City from 21st-placed Bayer Leverkusen. As the league phase progresses and matches unfold, the top eight spots could be fiercely contested by these English clubs.
