How all nine British teams stayed in Europe
Rangers’ draw on Thursday ensured all nine British teams went through to the knockout stages.
Rangers’ 1-1 draw with Young Boys on Thursday ensured that all nine British teams have qualified for the knockout phase of European competition.
Here, the PA media agency takes a look at how each of them did it.
Champions League
Liverpool
How they progressed: Group E winners
Liverpool went into the final round of matches on Tuesday night not sure of progression but ended up as group winners thanks to a 2-0 victory over Salzburg in Austria. Their campaign got off to a bad start in September when they lost 2-0 away to Napoli, and they needed Mo Salah’s 69th minute winner against Salzburg after blowing a 3-0 lead in a dramatic 4-3 win at Anfield two weeks later. After Napoli frustrated Jurgen Klopp’s side in a 1-1 draw on Merseyside in late November they travelled to Salzburg on Tuesday knowing defeat could have condemned them to the Europa League, but two second half goals in as many minutes from Naby Keita and Salah ensured their progress.
Manchester City
How they progressed: Group C winners
Chelsea
How they progressed: Second in Group H
Tottenham
How they progressed: Second in Group B
Europa League
Manchester United
How they progressed: Group L winners
A thumping victory over AZ Alkmaar in their final match was a strong way to finish the group and also secured United top spot. An edgy opening day win at home to Astana was hardly the most convincing way to start and their goalless draw at Alkmaar left Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side with work to do. But back-to-back wins over Partizan Belgrade put the Red Devils in control of the group, despite a young side falling to defeat in the freezing temperatures of Kazakhstan.
Arsenal
How they progressed: Group F winners
Wolves
How they progressed: Second in Group K
Nuno Espirito Santo had guided Wolves into their first European season since 1980-81 after a superb Premier League campaign following promotion. A gruelling qualification which involved six matches just to reach the group phase left some fearing for Nuno’s side, but they swept into the last 32 with ease. Portuguese side Braga topped the group after winning at Molineux and claiming a 3-3 draw at home, but Wolves won home and away against Besiktas and Slovan Bratislava to ease through as runners up.
Celtic
How they progressed: Group E winners
Rangers
How they progressed: Second in Group G
Rangers’ battle to reach the Europa League group stage began on July 9 with a clash against St Joseph’s of Gibraltar. Three more two-legged ties followed before Steven Gerrard’s side had qualified. They were then handed a tough draw after being paired with Porto, Feyenoord and Young Boys. The quality of the group was reflected in the fact that Rangers were able to progress, as runners up, despite only picking up nine points. Draws in their last two matches edged Gers through, but earlier Ibrox wins over Feyenoord and Porto paved the way to the knockout phase.
