The presence of six Premier League clubs in the Champions League round of 16 was widely seen as proof of the league’s growing dominance in European football. Yet the first-leg results have quickly dampened that narrative.

Instead of reinforcing English supremacy, the opening matches delivered a sobering reminder that success in Europe is rarely straightforward. Manchester City and Chelsea both suffered heavy defeats, while Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur had already endured disappointing results earlier in the week.

Sobering Champions League matchday for EPL clubs

Even Arsenal, currently leading the Premier League, were pushed to the brink. Mikel Arteta’s side needed a stoppage-time penalty from Kai Havertz to salvage a draw against Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, despite having cruised through the league phase with eight wins from eight matches.

Tottenham’s struggles were particularly stark as they were comfortably beaten by Atletico Madrid. Liverpool also stumbled against Galatasaray, while Newcastle United came agonisingly close to beating Barcelona at St James’ Park before a late penalty denied them a memorable victory.

The Premier League has had a rough time through the first two days of the Champions League knockout round 😬

🤝 Arsenal draw 1-1 after an 89th-minute penalty
❌ Liverpool lose 1-0 to Galatasaray for the second time this season
❌ Manchester City lose 3-0 to UCL rivals Real… pic.twitter.com/Z44RZVBMDg

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 11, 2026

With the second legs still to come, several English teams now face an uphill battle to keep their Champions League hopes alive. Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham must overturn three-goal deficits, a daunting task at this stage of the competition. Arsenal, Newcastle and Liverpool appear to have the best chance of advancing.

It is worth noting that five of the six Premier League teams played their first legs away from home, which could make the return fixtures slightly more favourable. Still, the early results suggest that English clubs may not have things as easy as the league-stage standings initially indicated.

The revamped Champions League format had seen Premier League teams dominate the table phase, prompting predictions that they could control the knockout rounds as well. But clubs that progressed through the play-offs — including Bodo/Glimt, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Galatasaray — have shown they are more than capable of challenging the English contingent.

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who was present at the Bernabeu, believes the talk of English dominance may have been premature.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Robinson said: “We spoke about the England teams and dominance in Europe. Look at how easily they qualified, in the Europa and Conference leagues as well. But in the Champions League, not one English team has won.

“Manchester City were in a better place than Real Madrid. They were injury-ravaged. It looked like an under-23 side with a scattering of experience for Real. But they were clinical and well-coached and hit City on the counter-attack.”

“Unfortunately we couldn’t do it!”

Pep Guardiola reacts after Manchester City’s defeat to Real Madrid 🎙️@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK | @julesbreach pic.twitter.com/25sZ6GrUFU

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 11, 2026

Data analysts have also adjusted their projections following the first-leg results. According to Opta, the chances of all six Premier League clubs reaching the quarter-finals have dropped compared to the probabilities before the round-of-16 matches began.

For now, the idea of Premier League dominance in Europe remains under scrutiny, with the second legs set to determine whether English clubs can restore their standing in the competition.

William Osula, who once won a skill competition arranged by Manchester United, returned to haunt the Red Devils as his 90th-minute goal resulted in a 2-1 defeat for Man United at St. James Park. This was also Man United’s first loss under interim manager Michael Carrick, who started with six wins and one draw.

It was a chaotic game in which Jacob Ramsey was sent off in the first half’s added time after diving and earning a second yellow card. Despite the red card setback, Anthony Gordon soon won a penalty in the added time after a clash with Man United captain Bruno Fernandes, and converted it to make it 1-0 for Newcastle.

William Osula’s old Man United connection

Adding more drama before the halftime break was Fernandes’ cross, which found Casemiro in the box. The Brazilian headed in the equaliser at 45+9.

However, it was Newcastle who had the last laugh after Danish forward Osula came off the bench to score a brilliant solo goal in the 90th minute.

Interestingly, the 22-year-old Osula has an old Man United connection. The FC Copenhagen academy product, Osula, was the winner of Man United’s Soccer Schools skills final at the Old Trafford stadium in 2014.

Time flies 😅 pic.twitter.com/DBcGQ0A0ZW

— Newcastle United (@NUFC) March 4, 2026

He has now returned after 12 years to haunt them with a memorable goal in the English Premier League.

The social media post of United honouring Osula in 2014 is currently going viral, highlighting how the unpredictable often becomes the norm in the sporting world.

2014: William Osula wins Man Utd’s Soccer School World Skills Final
2026: William Osula scores the winner for Newcastle against Man Utd! pic.twitter.com/MaAQO5Otz0

— Premier League (@premierleague) March 4, 2026

Meanwhile, Man United’s Carrick lambasted his players after failing to beat 10-man Newcastle.

“We’re not happy with the way we played the game tonight,” said Carrick. “I don’t think it was the 10 men. We just didn’t play good enough tonight. We can’t make any excuses for that.

“They deserved to win tonight… tonight hurts, because we don’t like losing games, but we’ll be better for the next one.”

Lone goalscorer Benjamin Sesko was not the only player interim manager Michael Carrick hailed in the media after a 1-0 win over Everton in the English Premier League on Monday, but goalkeeper Senne Lammens was also appreciated.

The 23-year-old Lammens keeps growing in stature at Man United in his debut season as he made a few crucial saves against Everton, helping the club earn a third clean sheet in six games under Carrick.

“We had to do a lot of work. Credit to Everton they made it difficult, made us defend our box a lot. The spirit with which we defended the box was top class,” Carrick said after the match at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Carrick hails Lammens, Sesko

“Senne was oustanding tonight,” added Carrick. “You couldn’t hope for much more from a goalkeeper. It was an exempalary performance, so delighted for him.

“You want (a goalkeeper) to take the chaos away and Senne is that. That calmness and composure helps those in front of him.”

Carrick has now won five out of six matches as United’s interim coach, as the team jumped to fourth spot in the league table, three points clear of Liverpool and Chelsea.

The victory against Everton came through a Sesko goal, his sixth goal in seven appearances since Ruben Amorim was fired in January. The 22-year-old Sesko is yet to start under Carrick in six matches, but has scored from the bench in three of his last four matches.

The only goal against Everton also involved Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. The attacking players Man United bought in last summer. It was Cunha’s pass to Mbeumo that he squared off to Sesko to score the winner.

“It was a ruthless finish, I like the way he put it away with real confidence,” said Carrick. “Great play from Matheus and Bryan to set it up. Delighted for Ben again, coming on and making the difference.”

Man United’s next match is against Crystal Palace at home on Sunday.

Manchester United Muslim Supporters Club (MUMSC) and famous broadcaster Piers Morgan tore into INEOS founder and the club co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe after he said the “UK has been colonised” by immigrants. But those comments are sure to have an impact on the club and people associated with it.

Manchester United co-owner Ratcliffe made the explosive and divisive comments during an interview with Sky News’ Ed Conway.

Ratcliffe’s comments have also been denounced by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who called them “offensive and wrong,” adding that the 73-year-old businessman must “apologise” and that “Britain is a proud, tolerant and diverse country.”

Man United co-owner attacks immigrants in UK

One of Britain’s richest and most influential business personalities, Ratcliffe, who is now a resident of Monaco, said that the United Kingdom’s resources are being drained by immigrants

“You can’t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in,” Ratcliffe told Conway. “I mean, the UK has been colonised. It’s costing too much money.

Manchester United part-owner has told @EdConwaySky the UK has been “colonised” by immigrants, who are draining resources from the state, as he warns of the country facing profound political, social and economic challenges.

🔗 pic.twitter.com/qFpiO0HkfO

— Sky News (@SkyNews) February 11, 2026

“The UK has been colonised by immigrants, really, hasn’t it? I mean, the population of the UK was 58 million in 2020, now it’s 70 million. That’s 12 million people.”

In retaliation, Manchester United Muslim Supporters Club said Ratcliffe’s statements were deeply concerning as they can “deepen” prejudice and division.

“We are deeply concerned by remarks describing the UK as having been ‘colonised’ by immigrants, and by positive references to political figures whose rhetoric on immigration and minority communities has long been divisive,” MUMSC said on X.

“The term ‘colonised’ is not neutral. It echoes the language frequently used in far-right narratives that frame migrants as invaders and demographic threats. Such rhetoric has real-world consequences.

“The UK has experienced sustained increases in hate crimes in recent years, including rises in Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, racially motivated attacks and hostility toward migrants and people of colour.

🚨 MUMSC statement regarding recent comments by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Read below. pic.twitter.com/mIgxPdKzWB

— MUMSC (@mum_sc) February 11, 2026

“Public discourse shapes public behaviour. When influential figures adopt language that mirrors extremist talking points, it risks legitimising prejudice and deepening division.”

“Manchester United is a global club built on diversity – on players, staff and supporters from every background, faith and ethnicity. The strength of our club, and of our country, lies in that diversity.

“Debate on immigration policy is legitimate. But it must be conducted responsibly, without language that alienates communities or reinforces narratives associated with intolerance. We stand with all communities who reject racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and hatred in all its forms, and we call for leadership that unites rather than divides.”

Popular broadcaster Morgan labelled Ratcliffe’s comments as “race-baiting hypocrite” in a strongly worded statement on social media.

Aside from his blatant lies/ignorance about UK population numbers, Ratcliffe is an immigrant tax exile in Monaco, and most of his Manchester United team are immigrants to UK. So he’s a stinking race-baiting hypocrite. https://t.co/MMG1MDxPqo

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 11, 2026

“Aside from his blatant lies/ignorance about UK population numbers, Ratcliffe is an immigrant tax exile in Monaco, and most of his Manchester United team are immigrants to the UK. So he’s a stinking race-baiting hypocrite,” he said.

There’s no doubt Ratcliffe’s recent comments are set to make him even more unpopular with the club, where he has already ordered numerous job cuts. It’s also ironic in many ways that Ratcliffe is complaining about immigration in the UK while being a resident of Monaco.

Manchester United football club also include a large number of overseas players, and a majority of staff have a global heritage. In such a scenario, Ratcliffe’s remarks are the opposite of what Manchester United and the English Premier League stand for.

It also has the potential to spark a new wave of racism in an already highly fractured world and Britain.

Kick It Out, an organisation that works with football teams on discrimination and inclusiveness, has slammed Ratcliffe, stating that “This type of language and leadership has no place in English football.”

Interestingly, United are among the few truly global football clubs whose popularity cuts across borders and continents. A large share of Manchester United supporters come from African and Asian countries. This die-hard following has not been built solely through on-field performances, but also through the institution embracing inclusivity.

Who can forget the top African and Asian footballers who have played for the club? South Korea’s Park Ji-sung was hugely popular, while Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly served the club to the best of his abilities.

With his irresponsible comments, Ratcliffe now risks alienating this global community at a time when the club has been in decline for over a decade.

Viral Manchester United fan, Frank Ilett, will have to wait longer to cut his hair as Michael Carrick’s side fell agonisingly short of winning their fifth consecutive match. Man United were held to a 1-1 draw by the inspiring West Ham on Wednesday in the English Premier League as Benjamin Sesko secured a point for the Red Devils.

United had won the first four matches under former player and interim manager Carrick, but as per a
condition set by Ilett in 2024, a victory over West Ham would have seen him finally cut his hair after over 500 days. But United failed to win their fifth consecutive match and Ilett would now have wait longer.

West Ham show Carrick’s United still have layers to unlock

That, however, would not be Man United’s major concern. The biggest worry would be how West Ham and manager Nuno Espírito Santo diffused a team that was high on confidence. United came into the game after beating Man City, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham, but the Hammers produced a perfect performance at the London Stadium.

One area where Carrick erred was that his approach was very similar to that last four games. He didn’t change much despite West Ham sitting deep, and then got lucky on the counterattack as Tomas Soucek put them in front in the 50th minute.

It took till 69th minute for Carrick to bring on Benjamin Sesko in place of Matheus Cunha, finally changing tactics to play some long ball instead of trying to stitch passes and score a goal. The introduction of the 1.95 meters tall striker Sesko from Slovenia finally paid off in the dying minutes of the match as he scored an equaliser in the 96th minute.

Bryan 🤝 Benjamin

A sublime delivery and finish deep into injury time 🎯

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 11, 2026

A very Man United result, but they would have wanted a win.

“I think we were a little disappointed and we were definitely not at our best. I’m a little frustrated at that,” Carrick told TNT Sports. “It is a tough place to come and we didn’t have that sharpness to find the answers. Great spirit again and we will take the point and move on.”

“Credit to the boys for coming back again, it is a great trait to have in the team,” Carrick added. “There are positives to take from it, you can’t win every game, we certainly didn’t want to come away from here without a point.”

United next play against Everton on Monday night.

In other EPL matches, Chelsea blew away a 2-0 lead to play out a 2-2 draw against Leeds at home. Newcastle defeated Spurs 2-1, while Bournemouth won 2-1 against Everton.