Five Premier League clubs reach Champions League last 16 as Newcastle drop into play-offs with Real Madrid & PSG
A total of five Premier League clubs secured automatic qualification for the Champions League last 16 on Jan 29, 2026, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City all finishing in the top eight, while Newcastle United were forced into the February play-off alongside giants Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, Goal reported.
Arsenal made history by becoming the first club to win all eight league phase matches since the competition's format overhaul, edging Kairat 3-2 at the Emirates to seal top spot and a last-16 draw against one of Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund or Olympiacos. Manchester City clinched the crucial eighth place with a 2-0 win over Galatasaray and will face one of Real Madrid, Inter, Bodo/Glimt or Benfica in the last 16; the draw bracket also suggests a possible all-English quarter-final between City and Arsenal if both progress.
Liverpool and Tottenham finished third and fourth respectively — the Reds beating Qarabag 6-0 and Spurs winning 2-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt — and both can draw Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge or Galatasaray, with the advantage of playing the second leg at home. Chelsea completed the quintet of English automatic qualifiers after a 3-2 comeback win over Napoli and now face Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco, Qarabag or Newcastle in the last 16.
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