So the Champions League and Europa Cup group stages kick off this week prior to GW6. Here’s a glance at Man City, Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal’s form following Champions League and Europa Cup Group Stage participation last season. I didn’t feel that Chelsea and Man Utd were worth including in this article due to the sheer amount of changes at both clubs since last season.
Man City:
As expected The Citizens enjoyed rich form following Champions League Group matches last season; winning five out of six of the matches, with one draw coming against their domestic rivals Liverpool and no defeats. In the six matches Man City scored a total of fifteen goals and conceded four goals:
(Results following CL Group matches 2018/19:CAR 0-5 MCI, LIV 0-0 MCI, TOT 0-1 MCI, MCI 3-1 MUN, MCI 3-1 BOU, MCI 3-1 EVE)
Interestingly, Man City hot shots and popular captain picks Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling only manged to score two goals each from the total fifteen goals. Aguero featured in four of the games and Sterling featuring in all six of the games. More surprisingly, less popular FPL picks iIkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez managed three goals each, highlighting the strength, depth and rotation options at Pep’s disposal.
Furthermore Man City’s fixtures following European competition look good apart from fixtures against Liverpool and Arsenal. We have already seen Pep rotate his squad in the early stages of the season, choosing to rest Kevin De Bruyne in the away tie to Norwich in GW5; can we expect further rotation against Watford, Wolves, Aston Villa and Newcastle?
Man City fixtures following CL Group matches 2019/20: WAT (H), WOL (H), AVL (H), LIV (A), NEW (A), ARS (A)
Liverpool:
Jürgen Klopp’s men matched Man City’s record following European Competition last season, also winning five of the six matches following group stage matches. The Red’s scored thirteen goals and conceded just two goals, achieving four clean sheets:
(Results following CL Group matches 2018/19:LIV 3-0 SOU, LIV 0-0 MCI, LIV 4-1 CAR, LIV 2-0 FUL, LIV 1-0 EVE, LIV 3-1 MUN)
During the six matches both Salah and Mane racked up a total of three goals each. Notably Liverpool scored more goals following home ties in the group stage than they did in the CL away fixtures (Home: 10 Away: 3). However its Liverpool’s impressive defensive record following European competition that stands out. Could they repeat this record this season? To do so they will need to keep out Chelsea, Leicester, Tottenham and Man City!
Liverpool fixtures following CL Group matches 2019/20: CHE (A), LEI (H), TOT (H), MCI (H), BRI (H), WAT (H)
Tottenham:
Despite reaching the Champions League Final last season Spurs experienced a tricky time in the group stage, only winning two of their six group stage matches! Following the Champions League group matches Spurs went on to win four games and losing twice. From these six matches Spurs scored seven goals and conceded five:
(Results following CL Group matches 2018/19: BRI 1-2 TOT, TOT 1-0 CAR, TOT 0-1 MCI, CRY 0-1 TOT, ARS 4-2 TOT, TOT 1-0 BUR)
From the seven goals Harry Kane scored only twice despite playing in all six games.
Notably, all of the matches apart from the defeat against North London rivals Arsenal were won or lost by a single goal suggesting that Spurs matches after European Competition are very tight. Can we expect the same this season?
Tottenham fixtures following CL Group matches 2019/20: LEI (A), BRI (A), LIV (A), SHU (H), BOU (H), WOL (A)
Arsenal:
Unlike the clubs discussed so far, Arsenal did not play in the Champions League last season but played in the Europa Cup, the same applies for this season. It’s worth noting that the teams that Arsenal come up against in European Competition are lesser than those that Man City, Liverpool and Spurs face in the Champions League allowing Emery more flexibility in squad selection for the European matches. Either way Arsenal won three, drew once and lost twice following Europa Competition scoring sixteen goals and conceding nine.
(Results following CL Group matches 2018/19: ARS 2-0 EVE, FUL 1-5 ARS, CRY 2-2 ARS, ARS 1-1 WOL, ARS 4-2 TOT, SOU 3-2 ARS)
Arsenal scored more goals than two Premier League frontrunners Man City and Liverpool following involvement in European competition last season; however the results also highlight the defensive frailties at the Emirates.
Most impressively however is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang record following European fixtures, scoring six goals in the six games last season! And you could be forgiven to expect similar numbers this season from the in-form Gunners striker as Arsenal’s fixtures following European Competition look appealing! Just don’t expect clean sheets!
Arsenal fixtures following CL Group matches 2019/20: AVL (H), BOU (H), CRY (H), LEI (A), NOR (A), MCI (H)
Conclusion
Reflecting on last season’s results that followed European Group Stage involvement; Liverpool were the strongest team when it comes to clean sheets, only conceding two goals in six games. This might help to re-ignite some interest in the ‘double Liverpool defence’ tactic that so many started the season with only to feel let down over the first five GW’s. Evidence from last season suggests that Klopp likes to keep things very tight defensively following midweek involvement in the CL?
In attack it’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who shines, with six goals in six matches last season! Some surprising differential picks such as Man City’s Mahrez and Gundogan also impressed with three goals each! Maybe this season the likes of Bernardo Silva who hasn’t had much game time could be worth keeping a close eye on, similarly to how Mahrez was given some game time following CL games last season?
Personally, after a disappointing start to the season I hit my Wildcard in GW5 in preparation for the upcoming GW6. The findings from this article have led me to confidently bring Aubameyang to my team and pay strong consideration to him as a captain option for GW6 despite Raheem Sterling having an excellent record against Watford (7 goals in last 5 games).
Finally, to conclude; from the twenty four PL matches that followed European Group Stage matches; Man City, Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal managed seventeen wins (70.8%), three draws (12.5%) and four defeats (16.6%) between them.
European Hangover? What Hangover?
@CorfFPL
(Member of the @FPLWolfpack)
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