The English Big Six Take Charge: A Final Group Stage Showdown in the Champions League
28 January 2026
Champions League: The English Six Take Charge
The six English clubs, taking part in the Champions League, hold a direct path to the last-16 if results fall into place after tonight's final group games.
All eight group-stage matches are played simultaneously tonight to decide which teams progress directly to the last-16 and which go into the playoffs, with drama guaranteed by fixtures in different time zones.
The top eight finishers advance straight to the knockout stage, while teams from ninth to twenty-four contest a two-legged playoff, and those from twenty-five to thirty-six exit the competition.
Before tonight's gameweek, five English sides sit in the top eight: Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Newcastle, while Manchester City still has a strong chance of direct qualification.
Arsenal lead the table with a perfect 21 points and theoretically seal top spot, while Liverpool sit fourth on 15, just one behind Tottenham in fifth.
Newcastle are seventh on 13, equal with Chelsea in eighth, and Manchester City eleventh.
Arsenal travel to ease ahead at Kairat Almaty, while Liverpool host Qarabag at Anfield.
Tottenham face Eintracht Frankfurt away, while Newcastle visit Paris Saint-Germain.
Chelsea prepare for a risky fixture at Napoli, while Manchester City host Galatasaray at the Etihad.
If strategy were a haircut, these teams would still need a stylist—thankfully, the group stages come with a decent barber. Meanwhile, the Champions League keeps reminding us that the only thing more unpredictable than football is my WiFi.
