Champions League: With 5 English teams winning, MU could be ahead of Barca.
Five out of six Premier League teams won in the third round of the Champions League; Liverpool and Chelsea both won 5-1. In a hypothetical scenario, MU could earn 6-7 points and temporarily be ahead of Barcelona.
When the final whistle blew at the end of the third round of the 2025/26 Champions League classification, English football left a strong mark: five wins and one draw, with an aggregate score of 19-2. Liverpool and Chelsea's 5-1 thrashings ignited the European atmosphere, while Manchester City, Arsenal, and Newcastle all kept clean sheets. From this foundation, the question arises: if Manchester United were to qualify, where would they stand in the 36-team landscape?
Match summary: five wins, one draw, and a goalfest.
Man City comfortably beat Villarreal 2-0 in Spain. Meanwhile, Arsenal thrashed Atletico Madrid 4-0 at the Emirates, a performance seen as a testament to their maturity and their return to the title contenders.
Newcastle, after facing doubts in the Premier League, accelerated their European campaign with a 3-0 victory over Jose Mourinho's Benfica. Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes shone in Eddie Howe's pressing system, reminiscent of a fiery, dynamic team.
The two most exciting victories came from Liverpool and Chelsea. Without Mohamed Salah in the starting lineup, Liverpool still came from behind to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1, thanks to contributions from center-backs Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, along with new signing Florian Wirtz and striker Hugo Ekitike. In London, Chelsea beat Ajax 5-1, setting a Champions League milestone with three teenagers scoring goals: Marc Guiu, Estevao Willian, and Tyrique George. Tottenham concluded the round with a 0-0 draw against Monaco.
| English club | Competitor | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester City | Villarreal | 2-0 | Pep Guardiola's machine continues to be effective. |
| Arsenal | Atletico Madrid | 4-0 | A spectacular performance at Emirates |
| Newcastle | Benfica | 3-0 | Gordon and Barnes shine in pressing. |
| Liverpool | Eintracht Frankfurt | 5-1 | Conversely, Salah did not start. |
| Chelsea | Ajax | 5-1 | A record three teenage players scored goals together. |
| Tottenham | Monaco | 0-0 | Divide the points |
Tactical analysis: the character and depth of the English representative.
Man City may not be as explosive as they were in their peak two seasons ago, but their 2-0 away win showcased a familiar pattern: risk control and clinical finishing. Arsenal, meanwhile, displayed speed and fluidity in their attacking structure to stifle Atletico 4-0, a testament to the strategic progress under Mikel Arteta.
Newcastle scored by employing a fast-paced and disciplined pressing strategy. Attacking players like Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes were key to Eddie Howe's efforts to restore pressure and energy to the Magpies.
For Liverpool, the 5-1 victory at Frankfurt was a response after a run of four consecutive defeats. Arne Slot – still relatively new to Anfield – is infusing the team with steel and mental resilience: managing without Salah from the start, effectively utilizing the quality of the Van Dijk-Konate central defensive partnership, and the integration of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike.
Chelsea continued to write a new chapter in their youth era. Not only did they win convincingly, but they also became the first team in Champions League history to have three teenagers score in a single match. This second-youngest English team in the competition displayed incredible confidence and composure.
Tottenham concluded their group stage matches with a goalless draw against Monaco – a point that remains valuable in the highly competitive landscape of the qualifying rounds.
MU as a role model in the Champions League.
Interestingly, both Liverpool and Chelsea – who just won 5-1 – have been defeated by Manchester United in the Premier League this season. Liverpool lost 1-2 to MU at Anfield, and Chelsea also suffered a similar defeat last month. Despite currently sitting 9th in the Premier League, this fact forces observers to look at Ruben Amorim's team's path with more respect.
MU faced a tough schedule in the first quarter of the season, taking on Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea – four of the five teams that had just won convincingly in Europe. They had two wins against Liverpool and Chelsea, and even dominated Arsenal but lost due to bad luck. A year earlier, Amorim had also defeated Pep Guardiola in the Champions League, a milestone that demonstrated the Portuguese coach's ability to compete at the highest level.
Given the relative strength of the English teams in the qualifying round, it's reasonable to assume that if Manchester United qualify for the Champions League this season, they could earn 6-7 points after three matches – enough to temporarily break into the top eight and even surpass Barcelona. This is a hypothetical assessment, but it reflects the reality that MU is gradually reviving with a more pronounced pressing style and midfield structure under Amorim.
Key statistics for round 3
- England representatives: 5 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses.
- Total score across six games: 19-2.
- Clean sheets: 4 matches.
- Liverpool and Chelsea both won with the same score of 5-1.
- In the ranking of the 36 teams in the qualifying round: two English clubs are in the top 8 and all six clubs are currently in the top 16.
Impact and prospects
The five resounding victories for English football in Round 3 were more than just points. They conveyed a message of depth, character, and coaching quality, emanating from Manchester City, Arsenal, Newcastle, Liverpool, and Chelsea. In this context, although not participating, Manchester United was still present indirectly: they defeated two teams that had just won convincingly in Europe, and are finding their competitive edge again under Ruben Amorim.
The journey is still long with the 36-team format of the classification round. But the results of the third round show that the power order is leaning towards the Premier League. And if MU returns to the Champions League soon, that familiar stage may still have room for the Red Devils.
