Premier League clubs are dominating the 2025/26 Champions League season like never before. For the second time in one campaign, five English clubs — Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle, and Tottenham — recorded wins in the same round of fixtures, a feat unmatched in the tournament’s history.

Record-Breaking Start for English Teams

Four of the five (Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City, and Newcastle) now sit inside the top eight in the league phase — the automatic qualification spots for the knockout rounds. Even Chelsea, who stumbled to a 2-2 draw against Qarabag, are still 12th and well within reach of the playoffs.

This stunning run showcases what Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has called “the domination of England” in European football. With unmatched financial firepower and depth of squad, the Premier League has effectively become “Europe’s Super League.”

Why Are English Clubs So Strong?

• Financial Muscle: Premier League TV rights generated over £3bn in transfers this summer alone — exceeding the combined spending of Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1, and Serie A.
• Squad Depth & Talent: Arsenal, leading both the Premier League and Champions League standings, are proof of the strength that depth brings. They’re one of just three clubs (along with Bayern Munich and Inter Milan) with perfect European records so far.
• Elite Coaching and Infrastructure: English clubs benefit from world-class coaching, facilities, and backroom staff, helping them outperform Europe’s traditional giants.

Could All Six Premier League Teams Reach the Knockouts?

It’s possible — and would be a historic first. Opta’s latest projections show:

• Arsenal: 99.8% chance of qualification
• Manchester City: 97.4%
• Liverpool: 95.5%
• Newcastle: 82%
• Chelsea: 80.8%
• Tottenham: 72%

However, as former England midfielder Stephen Warnock noted, “it’s the knockout stages that really count” — reminding fans of Liverpool’s shock exit last season despite topping the league phase.

Other Top Contenders

Beyond the Premier League, Bayern Munich, led by top scorer Harry Kane, look like the most dangerous challengers. Bayern also have a perfect record and lead all clubs with 14 goals scored.

Meanwhile, teams like Inter Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid remain strong threats, but sit behind English and German teams in performance metrics so far.

Arsenal Favorites to Win UCL 2025/26

Arsenal are early favorites, with a 23.4% chance of winning the Champions League based on Opta’s model. Manchester City (12.5%) and Liverpool (11.3%) follow as the next most likely English contenders.

Former Everton star Leon Osman believes this season may finally see English sides balance the demands of domestic and European football — a challenge that’s limited success in the past.

Will We See Another All-English Final?

There have been three all-English Champions League finals:

• 2008: Manchester United vs Chelsea
• 2019: Liverpool vs Tottenham
• 2021: Chelsea vs Manchester City

This season, an Arsenal vs Bayern Munich final (38.8% vs 27.3% projected odds) is currently the most likely matchup. But with English teams firing on all cylinders, a fourth Anglo-exclusive final is far from unlikely.