All four English clubs reach KO stage for third year running

For the third consecutive season, all four English teams have advanced to the knock-out stage of the Champions League.

Their presence in the last 16 increases the likelihood of England being represented in the final of Europe's top competition for the fifth season running.

The previous occasions:

2005: Liverpool-Milan 3-3 after extra-time (Reds won 3-2 on penalties) in Istanbul.

2006: Barcelona-Arsenal 2-1 in Paris.

2007: Milan-Liverpool 2-1 in Athens.

2008: Manchester United-Chelsea 1-1 after extra-time (United won 6-5 on penalties) in Moscow.

From the original six British teams who entered the competition, two fell by the wayside and failed to reach the knock-out stage of the Champions League.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United will be in tomorrow's draw but Scottish sides Celtic and Rangers both missed out. Rangers suffered an early exit after losing in the second qualifying round, 1-2 on aggregate to Lithuania's FBK Kaunas. Celtic figured in their group phase but finished bottom of their group and failed to gain the consolation of a UEFA Cup berth.

European champions Manchester United and Liverpool finished top of their respective groups, while Arsenal and Chelsea claimed second place. Lancashire rivals United and Liverpool did not lose in the group stage with the Anfield Reds' total of 14 points their best ever in the competition.

The scorers

Club scorers throughout the group phase read:

5 − Gerrard (Liverpool).
4 − Berbatov (Manchester United).
3 − Adebayor (Arsenal); Rooney (Manchester United).
2 − Van Persie (Arsenal); Anelka, Terry (Chelsea); Keane (Liverpool).
1 − Gallas, Walcott, Bendtner, Song, Diaby, Ramsey (Arsenal); Maloney, McGeady, Robson, McDonald (Celtic); Lampard, Malouda, Cole, Kalou, Drogba (Chelsea); Kuyt, Babel, Riera, Ngog (Liverpool); Tevez, Giggs (Manchester United).

Tournament marksmen

5 − Messi (Barcelona), Gerrard (Liverpool), Klose (Bayern Munich), Benzema (Lyon).
4 − Berbatov (Manchester United), Jadson (Shakhtar), Del Piero (Juventus), Lisandro (Porto).

English clubs' records

Hereunder is how English clubs have fared since the European Cup was renamed Champions League:

Arsenal
1998-99: group phase; 1999-2000: first group phase; 2000-01: quarter-finals; 2001-02: second group phase; 2002-03: second group phase; 2003-04: quarter-finals; 2004-05: first round knock-out; 2005-06: runners-up; 2006-07: first round knock-out; 2007-08: quarter-finals.

Chelsea
1999-2000: quarter-finals; 2003-04: semi-finals; 2004-05: semi-finals; 2005-06: first round knock-out; 2006-07: semi-finals; 2007-08: runners-up.

Liverpool
2001-02: quarter-finals; 2002-03: first group phase; 2004-05: winners; 2005-06: first round knock-out; 2006-07: runners-up; 2007-08: semi-finals.

Manchester United
1993-94: second round; 1994-95: group phase; 1996-97: semi-finals; 1997-98: quarter-finals; 1998-99: winners; 1999-2000: quarter-finals; 2000-01: quarter-finals; 2001-02: semi-finals; 2002-03: quarter-finals; 2003-04: first round knock-out; 2004-05: first round knock-out; 2005-06: group phase; 2006-07: semi-finals; 2007-08: winners.