Winless in six games - what went wrong for PL clubs in Champions League?

For the first time since the 2022-23 campaign, no Premier League side managed a first-leg victory in the Champions League last 16, as Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City all lost, while Newcastle United and Arsenal were held to draws. Across the six ties English clubs scored only six goals and conceded 16, raising immediate questions about the depth of the much-vaunted domestic competition.

Arsenal’s night in Leverkusen was emblematic of the wider malaise. Mikel Arteta’s team, unbeaten in 12 matches and still competing on four fronts, needed an 84th-minute Kai Havertz penalty to rescue a 1-1 draw against the German champions. The Gunners managed just six shots, their lowest tally in Europe this season, and relied on substitute Noni Madueke for late impetus. “To have a player with that ability when you need him… big credit,” Arteta said, yet the overall display lacked the fluency supporters crave.

Liverpool arrived in Istanbul as strong favourites—Opta rated their chance of progression at 82.3%—but left with a 1-0 defeat after Mario Lemina was left unmarked to head Galatasaray’s winner. The Reds had 15 attempts and saw a second-half goal ruled out, yet never found a way through. Their probability of advancing has dropped to 51.4%.

Newcastle, meanwhile, spurned a golden opportunity on Tyneside. Eddie Howe’s men out-shot Barcelona and generated the higher expected goals figure from open play, only for Malick Thiaw’s stoppage-time foul on Dani Olmo to allow Lamine Yamal to convert a penalty and level the tie. “We should have managed the game better,” was the blunt assessment inside the camp before next week’s daunting trip to Catalonia.

The heaviest damage was suffered elsewhere. Tottenham collapsed in Madrid, conceding three times in 17 minutes en route to a 5-2 loss. Micky van de Ven described it as a “doomsday scenario” and, with interim head coach Igor Tudor overseeing a fourth straight defeat, questions swirl over his future barely a fortnight into the job. Spurs have now lost six consecutive games in all competitions for the first time in their history.

Manchester City’s tactical gamble backfired spectacularly at the Bernabéu. Pep Guardiola started an ultra-attacking lineup against a Real Madrid side missing Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham, but Federico Valverde’s first-half hat-trick left City 3-0 down and on the brink of elimination. Only four of 51 teams have recovered from a three-goal first-leg deficit in the Champions League era.

Chelsea’s goalkeeping rotation also proved costly in Paris. Filip Jorgensen, preferred to Robert Sanchez, gifted possession for PSG’s decisive third goal in a 5-2 loss. The decision to change keepers for such a high-stakes encounter will haunt head coach Liam Rosenior as the Londoners attempt to overturn the deficit at Stamford Bridge.

With Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace still to play in the Europa and Conference Leagues, England remains top of UEFA’s season association coefficient. Yet after a chastening midweek, the Premier League’s leading lights must regroup quickly or risk a collective European exit.