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Premier League sides endured a tough set of results in the first legs of their UEFA Champions League last-16 ties as they all failed to win - but their European adventures aren't over yet. All six still have the chance to battle back in their respective second legs this week. Here is how each of the Premier League sides in the competition can reach the final in Budapest.

Premier League clubs endured a difficult start to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

All six English sides failed to win their first legs last week, but will be looking to bounce back this week in the return legs, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle, and Tottenham Hotspur will be back in action on Tuesday and Wednesday, and they will be desperate to move one step closer to the final at the Puskas Arena in the Hungarian capital of Budapest on May 30.

If they do advance, who could the Premier League teams meet next in the quarter-finals and beyond? And when could they face each other in the competition?

Arsenal

Arsenal may be leading the way at the top of the Premier League table, but they needed a late Kai Havertz penalty to rescue a 1-1 draw against Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their last-16 clash.

They appear to have a favourable route to Budapest if they can get past their German rivals at the Emirates.

They will face the winner of Bodo/Glimt v Sporting CP in the quarter-finals.

Bodo/Glimt are 3-0 up after the first leg, so Gunners fans could be set for a trip to Norway.

If the Gunners win their quarter-final tie, they will then play one of Newcastle, Barcelona, Tottenham, or Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals.

The match between the Magpies and Barcelona could still go either way after a 1-1 draw in the first leg at St James’ Park.

However, a Champions League north London derby seems unlikely after Atletico took control in the first leg with a 5-2 win against Spurs.

If they reach the final, Arsenal could still face any of the teams on the other side of the draw.

That includes Premier League rivals Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool, as well as Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Galatasaray, Bayern Munich, and Atalanta.

Arsenal's route to the final

Quarter-finals: Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP

Semi-finals: Newcastle United, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur or Atletico Madrid

Final: Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Galatasaray, Bayern Munich, or Atalanta

Newcastle United

Newcastle face a tough trip to the Camp Nou for the second leg of their last-16 tie with Barcelona.

If they come out on top after a 1-1 draw in the first leg, they will face Spurs or Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals.

They will then go head-to-head with one of Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP in the semi-finals.

Like Arsenal, Newcastle will then have to contend with one of Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Galatasaray, Bayern Munich, or Atalanta in the climax of the tournament.

Newcastle's route to the final

Quarter-finals: Tottenham Hotspur or Atletico Madrid

Semi-finals: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP

Final: Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Galatasaray, Bayern Munich, or Atalanta

Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs are hanging on to their Champions League dream by a thread after their 5-2 loss to Atletico last week.

If they somehow manage to bring it back, they can look ahead to an all-English quarter-final against Newcastle or a mouth-watering tie with Barcelona.

If they win that, they could face bitter rivals Arsenal in the semi-finals.

However, they could also end up facing one of Bayer Leverkusen, Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP instead.

Spurs would then have to beat either Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Galatasaray, Bayern Munich, or Atalanta to secure what would surely go down as one of the most remarkable Champions League triumphs of all time.

Tottenham's route to the final

Quarter-finals: Newcastle United or Barcelona

Semi-finals: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP

Final: Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Galatasaray, Bayern Munich, or Atalanta

Manchester City

Like Spurs, Manchester City were humbled by Spanish opposition in the first leg of the last 16 of the Champions League.

A phenomenal Federico Valverde hat-trick saw them sink to a 3-0 defeat against Real Madrid at the Estadio Bernabeu.

If they are able to overturn the three-goal deficit at the Etihad, then they will play either German giants Bayern Munich or Serie A side Atalanta in the quarter-finals.

Secure another win, and City could face a semi-final clash with Premier League rivals Liverpool or Chelsea.

Alternatively, they could end up going toe-to-toe with Galatasaray or PSG.

Get past that hurdle, and City will have to contend with one of Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Newcastle United, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, Atletico Madrid, Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP in the final.

Man City's route to the final

Quarter-finals: Bayern Munich or Atalanta

Semi-finals: Liverpool, Chelsea, Galatasaray or Paris Saint-Germain

Final: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Newcastle United, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, Atletico Madrid, Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP

Chelsea

Chelsea also suffered a disappointing result in the first leg of their last 16 clash with PSG.

They were beaten 5-2 in Paris, and face a huge challenge to battle back and beat the holders.

If the Blues advance they could set up a classic Champions League fixture with Liverpool in the quarter-finals, assuming the Reds can get past Galatasaray.

They will then play one of Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Manchester City or Real Madrid in the semi-finals.

Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Newcastle United, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, Atletico Madrid, Bodo/Glimt and Sporting CP are battling it out for a place in the final on the other side of the draw.

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Chelsea's route to the final

Quarter-finals: Liverpool or Galatasaray

Semi-finals: Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Manchester City or Real Madrid

Final: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Newcastle United, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, Atletico Madrid, Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP

Liverpool

Liverpool will need to overturn a one-goal deficit against Galatasaray to set up a clash with either Chelsea or PSG in the quarter-finals.

Win that, and they will play one of Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Manchester City or Real Madrid in the semi-finals.

They have the same line-up of potential final opponents as City and Chelsea.

Liverpool's route to the final

Quarter-finals: Chelsea or Paris Saint-Germain

Semi-finals: Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Manchester City or Real Madrid

Final: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Newcastle United, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, Atletico Madrid, Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP

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How to watch Tottenham Hotspur v Atletico Madrid in UEFA Champions League last 16 second leg on TNT Sports and discovery+, date, kick-off time

Igor Tudor's Tottenham Hotspur have an almighty job on their hands if they are to preserve their status in the UEFA Champions League. Last week's chastening 5-2 defeat at the Metropolitano leaves the north London side needing to score at least three goals at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - a feat they have not achieved since November - as Tudor seeks a first victory in his Spurs reign.

Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to stage one of the great UEFA Champions League comeback stories when they face Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday.

Spurs need to claw back a three-goal deficit at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after a harrowing evening in Madrid which saw them slip 4-0 down inside 22 minutes.

Antonin Kinsky, who was making his European debut for Spurs in goal, was substituted on 17 minutes after significant errors for the first and third goals of the evening in an eventful affair.

Tudor's failure to acknowledge Kinsky as he walked down the tunnel attracted criticism from TNT Sports expert Steve McManaman in the aftermath.

Spurs will take heart from the two goals they managed to chalk up at the Metropolitano, and also from their 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday - their first point gained since the appointment of Tudor until the end of the season.

It is poised to be intriguing viewing as Spurs will be forced to be quick out of the blocks. Here is how you can watch on TNT Sports and discovery+.

When is Tottenham Hotspur v Atletico Madrid?

Tottenham Hotspur v Atletico Madrid takes place on Wednesday, March 18 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

Kick-off is at 20:00 UK time, with live coverage on TNT Sports 3 and discovery+ starting from 19:00.

How to watch Tottenham Hotspur v Atletico Madrid

Tottenham Hotspur v Atletico Madrid will be live on TNT Sports 3 and discovery+.

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Related Matches

Manchester United debate Jadon Sancho options, Mauricio Pochettino to Tottenham links reach 'fever pitch' - Paper Round

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Juventus are looking at Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson as well as Tottenham Hotspur stopper Guglielmo Vicario, while Mauricio Pochettino has again been linked with a move back to north London. Elsewhere, Jadon Sancho is being tracked by a number of clubs, and Manchester United are scrambling to find a suitable replacement for Casemiro ahead of his departure.

Juve monitor two Premier League goalkeepers

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson and Tottenham Hotspur stopper Guglielmo Vicario are targets for Juventus in the summer.

However, the Mirror reports that Liverpool have exercised their option to extend the Brazilian keeper’s contract for another season.

The paper reports: "Liverpool have activated an option to extend Alisson’s contract in order to fight off interest from Juventus. The Brazilian goalkeeper’s current deal was set to expire this summer, with a free transfer potentially on the cards.

"Juventus have been credited with an interest in Alisson’s services but it appears that he will not be on the move any time soon. Liverpool have activated an option to extend his deal by a further campaign which sees him committed to the club until 2027.

"That update comes amid news from Italy that Juventus are going to attempt a fresh move for his services.

"According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Italian giants have prioritised a move for a new goalkeeper, with Alisson a priority, while Spurs star Guglielmo Vicario is also seen as a potential option."

Pochettino linked with Spurs

The Sun claims that Mauricio Pochettino watched Atletico Madrid play Spurs in the UEFA Champions League in midweek as a guest of the Spanish side, rather than part of a move to appoint him as Igor Tudor’s long-term replacement.

However, the Argentine remains in the frame as a leading contender to be appointed to the role after this summer's World Cup in America.

The paper explains: "Pochettino watched from the stands in disbelief as Tottenham were battered by Atletico on Tuesday.

"It is understood that he was in the Spanish capital as a guest of the hosts rather than running the rule over his potential future employers.

"But speculation over heading back to north London has reached fever pitch after Spurs have endured a season to forget.

"They are in serious danger of dropping out of the Premier League for the first time in their history."

Sancho has options for next season

Aston Villa could yet make a move to sign Jadon Sancho on a free transfer at the end of the season, with Manchester United unlikely to retain him.

The Manchester Evening News also cites Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Besiktas, as well as his former club Borussia Dortmund, as potential destinations.

The paper states: "Jadon Sancho could leave Manchester United on a free transfer this summer, but it all depends on the club's stance on one of their last remaining Ruben Amorim 'bomb squad' members.

"However, with his current contract expiring with The Reds this summer, Villa could ultimately snap Sancho up as a free agent come the end of the season. That all depends on how United choose to play their cards, however, given that they have an option to extend his deal by a further year.

"Outside of a permanent move to Villa or extending his contract with Manchester United, Sancho seemingly has a number of options looking toward the future. A number of Turkish Super Lig outfits, including Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Besiktas are said to be monitoring his situation, while Borussia Dortmund are also said to be keeping tabs."

United face Casemiro conundrum

With Casemiro poised to leave Manchester United at the end of the season, The Express reports on potential replacements.

Listing the current candidates, the paper notes that Sandro Tonali, Carlos Baleba and Joao Gomes all lack the Brazilian’s goalscoring knack.

The paper explains: "They will also need to figure out how to replace Casemiro, who will wave goodbye to United when his contract expires in the summer. He's endured mixed fortunes since joining the club from Real Madrid in 2022, but it's clear that he will be sorely missed.

"The veteran midfielder initially struggled to hit the ground running, leading Jamie Carragher to infamously state 'the football has left him' after a disasterclass against Crystal Palace in 2024.

"This season, however, Casemiro has defied expectations to become a vital cog in United's midfield machine. He has been equally important in attack and defence, expertly screening the back four while chipping in with crucial goals at the other end of the pitch.

"They might be forced to think outside the box to solve this particular problem. Long-term target Carlos Baleba rarely appears on the scoresheet, while the likes of Joao Gomes and Sandro Tonali only have one goal between them in the Premier League this season."

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Liverpool - Tottenham Hotspur  TNT Sports

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Just one point separates Ally McCoist and Darren Fletcher as Premier League action returns, with Liverpool hosting Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea facing Newcastle United and Manchester City heading to West Ham United. Can the 'big six' respond after a UEFA Champions League nightmare in midweek? You know the drill: check out the expert predictions, then make your own picks for this weekend's games.

The Premier League's 'big six' will look to bounce back from a bruising week in the UEFA Champions League as domestic action returns this weekend.

But the spotlight is also firmly on the Ally vs Fletch predictions battle, with just one point separating Ally McCoist and Darren Fletcher after a dramatic Gameweek 29.

McCoist roared into the overall lead for the first time this season last time out, setting up another tight round as our esteemed experts go head-to-head once again.

Despite having six teams in the Champions League round of 16, Premier League sides failed to record a single victory in midweek, with Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Manchester City all suffering heavy three-goal defeats.

Spurs boss Igor Tudor remains in charge despite four defeats in four games, while Liverpool manager Arne Slot will be desperate for a response at Anfield after a 1-0 defeat at Galatasaray when the sides meet on Sunday.

Chelsea imploded late on in a chaotic 5-2 loss to PSG, while Saturday's opponents Newcastle United were denied a memorable win over Barcelona by a late Lamine Yamal penalty.

On TNT Sports, Manchester City will attempt to regroup after their 3-0 defeat at Real Madrid when they travel to West Ham United - who are themselves desperate for points in the fight for survival.

Elsewhere, leaders Arsenal could move 10 points clear - at least for a few hours - when they take on Everton on Saturday, while Manchester United host Aston Villa.

Think you know ball? Check out our experts' picks below, then have your say by voting on all 10 matches.

WinsPointsAlly10189Fletch12188

Gameweek 30 predictions

Date (GMT)MatchAllyFletchSaturday, March 14 (15:00)Burnley v Bournemouth1-20-1Saturday, March 14 (15:00)Sunderland v Brighton1-11-1Saturday, March 14 (17:30)Arsenal v Everton3-02-1Saturday, March 14 (17:30)Chelsea v Newcastle2-12-1Saturday, March 14 (20:00)West Ham v Man City1-31-2Sunday, March 15 (14:00)Crystal Palace v Leeds1-11-0Sunday, March 15 (14:00)Man Utd v Aston Villa2-12-1Sunday, March 15 (14:00)Nottingham Forest v Fulham2-12-1Sunday, March 15 (16:30)Liverpool v Spurs3-13-0Monday, March 16 (20:00)Brentford v Wolves2-02-1

Selected matches:

West Ham v Man City (TNT Sports)

Fletch: "Tricky. I think the fact that Crysencio Summerville isn't playing tips it in Manchester City’s favour. Erling Haaland always scores at the London Stadium."

Prediction: West Ham 1-2 Man City

Ally is backing Man City to win 3-1.

Liverpool v Spurs

Fletch: "I can’t see Spurs getting anything at Anfield. They were really bad in the week [against Atletico Madrid]. Igor Tudor’s still there. Nothing changes."

Prediction: Liverpool 3-0 Spurs

Ally is backing Liverpool to win 3-1.

Get involved: Vote on Gameweek 30 fixtures

Now it is over to you, our runaway leaders. Vote on the results for the next round of fixtures below!

Points (match result only)You (voter average)131Fletch126Ally125

SATURDAY

Burnley v Bournemouth

Sunderland v Brighton

Arsenal v Everton

Chelsea v Newcastle

West Ham v Man City

SUNDAY

Crystal Palace v Leeds

Man Utd v Aston Villa

Nottingham Forest v Fulham

Liverpool v Spurs

MONDAY

Brentford v Wolves

Ally vs Fletch scoring - and how you can play along

Each gameweek, Ally and Fletch predict the scores for every game and offer some hot takes on the biggest matches. The points system:

One point for getting the right result (win, draw or loss)

Three points for getting the score bang on

Double points for matches on TNT Sports

Want to get involved? You can vote on the result of every game - win, lose or draw - above, with a separate leaderboard tracking how you stack up against the experts.

- - -

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Igor Tudor had some strong words for his Tottenham Hotspur players before Sunday's game against Liverpool at Anfield. The relegation-threatened club's interim head coach said they could "cry or fight" in a press conference in which he also revealed goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky's reaction to being taken off in a UEFA Champions League fixture against Atletico Madrid after just 17 minutes.

Igor Tudor says Tottenham Hotspur’s problems cannot be blamed on "black magic" or "other bulls***" as he challenged his players to lift the club away from the Premier League’s relegation zone.

Tudor has overseen four successive losses since succeeding Thomas Frank as head coach on a contract until the end of the season.

Things went from bad to worse on Tuesday night when goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was hauled off against Atletico Madrid in the 17th minute after his team conceded three early goals. Tudor’s side went on to lose the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie 5-2.

Spurs, last relegated from the top flight in 1977, are just one point above the Premier League’s relegation zone before Sunday’s game against champions Liverpool at Anfield.

And Tudor had a message for his players at his pre-match press conference on Friday.

"What I always like to say to the players is, 'Don’t be a victim, don’t think it’s not about me,'" Tudor said.

"That can be the problem more than all of these things about Tottenham, the club, you know, like magic on the club, like black magic and this, and the other bulls***, you know.

"So this is about what I want to send as a message."

Tudor also said that the players can "cry or fight" as he addressed the situation that he and his team find themselves in.

He said: "Not an easy situation, not an easy moment. [It's a] big challenge to change things.

"Like everything in life, you can choose how to see the situation. You can cry or you can fight. You can be the victim or you can change something. This is the message I communicated to the players.

"The bottle is either half empty or half full. Here, there is nothing full, there are a lot of empty things.

"But difficult moments don't last forever. It will pass. I believe the players who take this as an opportunity, who stand up with the courage to change these things, will become better people and players afterwards."

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Spurs, who won the Europa League last season when Ange Postecoglou was in charge, have not won a Premier League game in 2026.

What Tudor said about Kinsky

Tudor was asked if Kinsky, 22, would play for the club again this season.

"He will play, for sure," said Tudor. "He came back the day after, and was very good and positive in training. Nothing else. This is probably the first and last time that this happened in my life, and the life of a lot of people.

"It is the same message that I had before. You can go out and be the victim. Everyone was sending messages of help, and 'I am with you', and this is nice also.

"He will for sure in his career make other mistakes but I think he has the strength and quality in front of him to have a very good career."

Stream the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Serie A, Men's and Women's FA Cup and more on TNT Sports and discovery+

The geniuses at Opta have been crunching the numbers and provided the latest projections for the rest of the Premier League season. The Supercomputer gives us the latest probabilities on where each team is expected to finish in the final table, including who will lift the title, who will squeeze into the European places and, of course, who will go down.

With around a quarter of the season left to play, virtually nothing is certain in the crazy world of Premier League football.

Each team has fewer than 10 matches to play to achieve what remains of their ambitions this season, whether that be lifting the big one at the top, securing a place in Europe for next season, or further down just keeping themselves in the division.

Teams return to league business after, for those involved, a weekend of FA Cup fifth-round action and European assignments in midweek.

But what are your team’s chances of fulfilling their dreams this season?

Our friends at Opta have once again crunched the numbers, providing the latest probabilities for where each of the 20 protagonists in this long-running drama we call the Premier League will end up when final whistles are blown around the country on May 24.

Premier League predictor table

Gunners aim to keep City in the rear-view on road to title glory

While mathematically, it’s still not strictly impossible for a late charge from the chasing pack, it seems highly unlikely that this season’s Premier League champions will not be either one of Arsenal or Manchester City.

With so many near-misses in recent years, including three successive second-place finishes, The Gunners’ current seven-point lead places them as strong favourites to finally get over the line, with Opta giving them a hefty 94.4% chance of getting the job done.

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The 5.6% chance given to City to once again hunt down the north Londoners seems low given they have a game in hand and welcome the table-toppers to Etihad Stadium in April, but at this late stage, Pep Guardiola’s side will need to be virtually perfect while hoping Arsenal slip up.

City's first assignment will be to overcome relegation battlers West Ham, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, this Saturday night to at the very least maintain the current gap to the leaders, depending on how Mikel Arteta's side perform at home versus Everton earlier in the day.

Both teams also have other commitments in the UEFA Champions League and FA Cup - as well as facing each other in next weekend's EFL Cup final - which could have knock-on effects and lead to further twists in the title race in the coming weeks.

Big battles to decide UCL hunt?

With a top-four finish guaranteeing a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League, just three points separate Manchester United in third place from Liverpool in sixth, with Aston Villa and Chelsea in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Fifth place is likely to also secure entry based on English sides’ strong showing in Europe this year.

Man Utd have been the form team in the division since Michael Carrick’s appointment as caretaker head coach in January, winning six of his eight matches in charge, but were beaten for the first time in their last outing away at 10-man Newcastle United.

Opta give The Red Devils a 56% chance of remaining in the top four (76% for top five).

Conversely, Villa, who were very recently within touching distance of the summit, have seen their form nosedive, with just two wins over the same period as Man Utd's resurgence. Despite this, they are still backed with a 62% chance of a top-four finish (82% for top five).

Chelsea are at 40% for a top-four finish (64% for top five) while Liverpool are currently outsiders at 37.5% (62% top five).

The Champions League qualification battle is likely to be decided by fixtures between the main contenders, with several juicy battles among the quartet in the final weeks of the campaign.

Key fixtures between top-four chasers

DateFixtureMarch 15Man Utd v Aston VillaApril 18Chelsea v Man UtdMay 2*Man Utd v Liverpool May 9*Liverpool v ChelseaMay 17*Aston Villa v Liverpool

*Date TBC

Beyond these four, Brentford are given less than a 4% chance of gatecrashing the top four, and a 10% chance of sneaking into fifth.

However, while it’s currently unclear how far down the league European places will be allocated as we wait for cup competitions both domestically and on the continent to be decided, seventh place seems highly likely to receive a spot, potentially in the UEFA Conference League.

The Bees, who have never played in Europe, are at 58% to finish seventh or above, boosting their hopes of an historic first.

Spurs circle the drain in shock fight for survival

The bottom of the table makes for very interesting reading.

Despite an impressive upturn in form, which has seen Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Champions League-chasing Aston Villa and Liverpool in recent weeks, a dire first half of the campaign has effectively condemned them to second-tier football next season. They're given zero chance by statisticians of escaping the drop this season.

Even above them, Burnley have just a measly one in 200 chance (0.5%) of retaining their Premier League status.

With those two effectively written off, this leaves one more place with, at this point, four teams scrambling to avoid it.

Currently occupying the dreaded 18th position are West Ham on 28 points, level with Nottingham Forest, who are one place higher.

The shock name of Tottenham Hotspur rests in 16th on 29 points, and Leeds United one place higher on 31.

The Hammers are currently favourites to go down on 47%, while Leeds are considered the least likely of the four for relegation with a less than a one in 10 likelihood of a return to the Championship following promotion last season.

Forest, on their fourth manager of the season in Vitor Pereira, are given a 28.7% chance of their Premier League stay coming to an end, but all eyes are on one team in particular in the battle for survival.

Spurs, who won the UEFA Europa League last season and, as it stands, are still just about in the UEFA Champions League, could be staring at the unthinkable scenario of playing outside the top flight for the first time since 1977/78.

The north London giants head into their next league game away to champions Liverpool at Anfield with no wins in their last 10 Premier League matches, losing their last five on the bounce.

Although Opta only give them a 17.6% chance of falling through the relegation trapdoor, a hairy end to the season could be in store for the beleaguered North London side.

Despite being given just under an 8% chance of going down, Leeds will take nothing for granted and know they will need to pick up valuable points in the coming weeks.

Four of their remaining nine matches are against fellow strugglers, and there is a potential blockbuster final-day showdown with West Ham.

Like the top-four battle, these 'six-pointers' could well shape the bottom of the table come May.

Key fixtures between relegation candidates

DateFixtureMarch 22Spurs v Nottingham ForestApril 10West Ham v WolvesApril 18Leeds v WolvesApril 18Nottingham Forest v Burnley April 25Wolves v Spurs May 2*Leeds v Burnley May 9*Spurs v LeedsMay 24*West Ham v Leeds

*Date TBC

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The Premier League endured a miserable week in the UEFA Champions League, with all six clubs failing to win the first legs of their last-16 ties. Heavy defeats for Spurs, Chelsea and Manchester City have left their hopes hanging by a thread, while Liverpool and Newcastle United also face a fight to progress. New Opta projections paint a bleak picture - but history offers a sliver of hope.

Played six. Won none. Conceded 16. As UEFA Champions League weeks go, this was about as chastening as it can get for the Premier League elite.

Tottenham Hotspur were 4-0 down inside 22 minutes at Atletico Madrid, by which point stand-in boss Igor Tudor had already chosen to swap his goalkeepers.

Chelsea collapsed from 2-2 to a 5-2 defeat against European champions Paris Saint-Germain. Manchester City were ripped apart as Real Madrid rode Federico Valverde's first career hat-trick.

Liverpool were relieved to escape Istanbul with only a one-goal deficit after a defensive display to forget, while Arsenal and Newcastle United at least emerged with credible draws.

Remarkably, all six Premier League sides saw their chances of reaching the quarter-finals fall this week, according to Opta.

Team% chance of quarter-finals before first leg% chance of quarter-finals after first legArsenal86%78%Liverpool79%51%Newcastle39%32%Man City69%17%Chelsea52%7%Spurs40%3%

Arsenal (78%) remain strong favourites to progress. Liverpool (51%) now have effectively a coin flip against Galatasaray, while Newcastle (32%) are still in a respectable position despite Lamine Yamal's late penalty for Barcelona.

For the rest, the outlook is far bleaker - though not entirely hopeless.

"I think Arsenal go through, I think Liverpool will go through," said TNT Sports expert Steve McManaman.

"City have got a chance, I think Tottenham and Chelsea are gone. Newcastle have got a hard job in the Camp Nou."

Can Spurs, Chelsea or Man City pull off a miracle?

History offers only faint encouragement.

Of the 51 occasions where a side has trailed by three goals after the first leg, just four teams have successfully turned the tie around.

SeasonMatchFirst legSecond leg2003/04Deportivo La Coruna 5-4 AC Milan1-44-02016/17Barcelona 6-5 PSG0-46-12017/18Roma 4-4 Barcelona (Roma win on away goals)1-43-02018/19Liverpool 4-3 Barcelona 0-34-0

Chelsea will hope PSG's 'remontada' trauma still lingers, while they can also draw confidence from last summer's 3-0 win over the French champions in the FIFA Club World Cup final.

Joe Cole admitted Chelsea's chances are now "very unlikely" ahead of the return leg at Stamford Bridge next Tuesday - but insisted that "a lot can happen in football".

Spurs fans will not need reminding of that. Their own miracle came in the 2019 semi-finals, 24 hours after Liverpool's barmy comeback against Barcelona.

Already trailing 1-0 from the first leg against Ajax, Spurs conceded two more in Amsterdam - leaving them needing three goals in 45 minutes. Step forward, Lucas Moura, who delivered all three on one of the competition's most dramatic nights.

Why Man City have the best chance of a comeback

The numbers suggest City have the best chance of adding to that short comeback list.

Since 2018, they have won six Champions League knockout matches by three goals or more - comfortably the most of the three English sides facing a major deficit - including their 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid in the 2022/23 semi-final second leg.

TeamChampions League knockout games won by 3+ goalsMan City6Chelsea2Spurs1

The challenge, of course, is doing it against a side that does not need to chase the game.

"I think City have got a chance at the Etihad," said ex-City stopper and TNT Sports expert Joe Hart. "Of the teams who have got a three-goal deficit, City are the ones who have got the chance."

Real Madrid's own record offers some encouragement too. Since 2009, they have lost five Champions League knockout matches by three goals or more - more than Atletico Madrid (two) and PSG (one - yep, that game).

TeamChampions League knockout games lost by 3+ goalsReal Madrid5Atletico Madrid2PSG1

But with Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham back in training after missing the first leg, City will likely need something close to a historic performance to reach the last eight.

Who are the favourites to win the Champions League?

Elsewhere, Bayern Munich have overtaken Arsenal as the tournament favourites, with Opta giving them a 26.3% chance of lifting the trophy after their 6-1 mauling of Atalanta on Italian soil.

Arsenal (22.1%) remain the Premier League's best hope. The other five English clubs all sit below 5%. Only Atalanta have worse odds than Spurs, whose chances are rated at just 0.1%.

Team% chance of trophyBayern Munich26.3%Arsenal22.1%Barcelona12.1%PSG10.2%Real Madrid8.3%Atletico Madrid6.1%Liverpool4.6%Newcastle United2.6%Manchester City2.3%Bodo/Glimt2.2%Bayer Leverkusen1%Galatasaray0.9%Chelsea0.8%Sporting CP0.5%Tottenham Hotspur0.1%Atalanta0.0%

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Spurs players look 'lost' after Atletico Madrid drubbing, Igor Tudor must instil belief - Ange Postecoglou

It was a night to forget for Tottenham Hotspur against Atletico Madrid as a nightmare opening 15 minutes set the tone for another difficult defeat. Igor Tudor is already under pressure just four games into his tenure and ex-Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou spoke to TNT Sports about the worrying state of affairs at the club, with relegation from the Premier League a real possibility.

Former Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou said the club's players look "lost" after their 5-2 loss to Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg.

Spurs found themselves 3-0 down after just 15 minutes in the Spanish capital and goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was substituted soon after in an error-strewn first half.

Interim head coach Igor Tudor, who has lost all four of his games since replacing Thomas Frank, is under increasing pressure, and Postecoglou suggested the key to turning things around is to restore the players' belief.

"It pains me to see it," Postecoglou told TNT Sports. "It looks like the players are fairly lost at the moment. There's obvious pressure there and it's a real difficult time.

"It all manifested itself in what happened last night - kind of the worst case scenario playing against a side away from home in Atletico who never drop their performance level. It was a horror start for them."

Asked what Spurs need to inspire an upturn in fortunes, he added: "There is no way that anyone objectively would say these players are performing at the levels they're capable of. You've got to try and ease the pressure on them.

"Even last night, I thought it was tremendous opportunity for them because they've done well in the Champions League, they're on the good side of the draw. Atletico away's tough but you've still got to take them back to Tottenham.

"I'm sure they've trained on that pitch before but the amount of times they were slipping over, I think that's still pressure, a real desperation in everything you do. Mentally, you're desperate and that manifests in a physical way, rushing things.

"It's hard to comment from the outside but for me it's about instilling some belief: show them the players they are, not the players they can be."

Postecoglou also offered his sympathy to Kinsky, whose two errors led to his premature substitution in Madrid.

"I really felt for Tony. I brought him to the club, he's an outstanding young keeper," the Australian said. "He's unbelievable. He's a fairly confident young man.

"That would've hurt him last night. We all know how brutal the football industry is, you've got to rebound from that.

"I felt for the players and fans last night because I know it's not the level they're capable of."

Having been heavily beaten in the Champions League, Spurs will now turn their attention to their bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League, with a trip to champions Liverpool on Sunday.

And Postecoglou urged his former players not to make the "wrong" kind of history.

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"If I was there now that's what I'd be saying to them: don't go into history for the wrong thing now," he added.

"There's a great motivation for you, don't be the group that takes a backwards step now, because they were the group that brought success after 17 years [by winning the UEFA Europa League]."

Asked whether there is enough character in the dressing room to survive, Postecoglou said: "There is. Let me tell you, for us to win the Europa League last year, if there wasn't character we wouldn't be able to do it.

"We were under pressure last year too but I saw a group of players absolutely focused on creating something special. It exists."

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Ange Postecoglou believes that Tottenham Hotspur players "look lost" and calls on Igor Tudor to "instil belief" around the club following the chastening UEFA Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid.