Six English representatives reach the Champions League round of 16, all defeated by MU

Six Premier League clubs made it to the 2025/26 Champions League round of 16, but ironically, all had experienced losses to Manchester United in their latest meetings.

English football is causing a major stir in the 2025/26 Champions League with as many as six representatives participating in the round of 16. Notably, all six teams are prominent names in the Premier League, and even more remarkable is that each had been defeated by Manchester United in their last domestic league encounter.

According to the new Champions League format, the top eight teams with the highest points after the group stage qualify directly for the round of 16. English football boasts five teams in this group: Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Manchester City. These clubs have maintained consistent form and accumulated enough points to avoid the risky play-off round.

Meanwhile, Newcastle United had to enter the play-offs but showed overwhelming strength. The Magpies crushed Qarabag with a 9-3 aggregate after two legs, earning the final spot and ensuring the Premier League has six representatives in the knockout stage.

However, what surprised fans most is that all six aforementioned teams had previously been defeated by Manchester United in their most recent Premier League matches this season. The Red Devils triumphed over Arsenal 3-2 in a thrilling chase, beat Liverpool 2-1 with sharp tactics, and convincingly won 2-0 against Tottenham.

Moreover, MU also defeated Chelsea 2-1 in a tense match, outclassed Man City 2-0 in the Manchester derby, and narrowly won 1-0 against Newcastle. These results demonstrate that MU has become a true nemesis for England’s strongest clubs.

• MU 2-0 Tottenham, 7/2/2026
• MU 3-2 Arsenal, 25/1/2026
• MU 2-0 Man City, 17/1/2026
• MU 1-0 Newcastle, 27/12/2025
• MU 2-1 Liverpool, 19/10/2025
• MU 2-1 Chelsea, 20/9/2025

The presence of six Premier League representatives progressing deep into the Champions League highlights the collective strength of English football. Simultaneously, MU’s winning streak against direct rivals sends a strong message: even without guaranteed European qualification, they are capable of making any top club suffer defeat.