The last – and only – time five Premier League teams made it through to the knockouts was in 2017, when Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham all progressed.
However just two of those sides – Liverpool and Manchester City – got beyond the last 16, while the Reds went all the way to the final after knocking City out in the quarter-finals.
With five Premier League sides finishing in the top eight of this season’s league phase, and therefore avoiding the prospect of facing one another in the last-16, there is the chance of a record number of English teams making the quarter-finals.
Having numerous English clubs in latter stages of the Champions League is nothing new with four sides progressing to the quarters in both 2007-08 and 2008-09, as well as 2018-19 – leading to an all-English final in 07-08 and 2018-19.
No other country have ever had four teams in the quarter-finals – this year England could have as many as six.
But the demands of playing in the Premier League alongside the Champions League takes its toll, which is why many managers were relieved to avoid the two extra play-off games.
“I still think it will be very difficult for one of them to go on and win it, just because of how difficult the Premier League is every week – whether you are fighting for the title or for a place in the top four,” Warnock added.
“Clearly the English clubs are in a good position going into the knockout stages, though. Some of the other big clubs that we thought would peak or start to show better form – like Paris St-Germain for example – have not really got going yet.”
