Much more was expected of Liverpool in the Champions League this season after their runners-up spot in the English Premier League ensured a return to UEFA’s competition for elite clubs after an absence of five years.

However, progress to the knock-out stages is in doubt after a lacklustre performance so far. In fact, the Reds are facing an uphill struggle to claim a top-two spot in their group.

In their last match against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, Liverpool played without regulars Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling, Joe Allen, Jordan Henderson, Mario Balotelli and Philippe Coutinho.

The media slammed manager Brendan Rodgers, saying that he had threw in the towel before the match had not even started.

Rodgers’s intention on that day was to rest his key players for the forthcoming Premier League clash against Chelsea.

But, the Liverpool fans were not impressed by the apparent lack of competitiveness against such high-quality opposition in what is universally viewed as the biggest prize in club football.

Moreover, the group match, at a stadium of iconic status, was against Real Madrid, the most attractive team on the continent and featuring none other than Cristiano Ronaldo, the best player in the world right now.

Yet, Rodgers remained calm and confident.

His pre-match explanation for fielding a depleted formation against Real was because “our form this season has been nowhere near our level. It’s hard to pick our best team”.

At the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City look like they can’t shake off their Champions League jinx.

The latest episode saw them go down at home to CSKA Moscow, remaining on two points and on the brink of an unexpected early exit.

Not only did City lose 2-1 in front of their own fans, they also had Fernandinho and Yaya Toure sent off after the break, ruling the two midfielders out of their next game against Bayern Munich at home next Tuesday.

City have no wins and only two points from four games. They could still be eliminated even if they were to win their remaining two matches − against Bayern Munich and Roma (away, December 10).

Manager Manuel Pellegrini refused to criticise the match officials for the two red cards as Premier League champions Man. City looked very poor on the night and outsmarted by the well-organised Russians.

The situations of the four English teams before next week’s match-day five fixtures:

Liverpool (Group B)

P4, W1, D0, L3, Gls 2-6, Pts 3.

Results: Home vs Ludogorets 2-1; Away vs Basel 0-1; Home vs Real Madrid 0-3; Away vs Real Madrid 0-1.

The Reds are three points behind second-placed Basel and on a par with Ludogorets.

Next Wednesday Liverpool play Ludogorets in Bulgaria. Previous results against sides from the eastern European country show three wins for Liverpool and a loss.

Manchester City (Group E)

P4, W0, D2, L2, Gls 4-6, Pts 2.

Results: Away vs Bayern Munich 0-1; Home vs Roma 1-1; Away vs CSKA 2-2; Home vs CSKA 1-2.

Arsenal (Group D)

P4, W2, D1, L1, Gls 9-7, Pts 7.

Results: Away vs Borussia Dortmund 0-2; Home vs Galatasaray 4-1; Away vs Anderlecht 2-1; Home vs Anderlecht 3-3.

The Londoners’ next match is at home to the already-qualified Borussia Dortmund.

The Gunners were left speechless after throwing away a 3-0 lead in their last match against Belgium champions Anderlech.

This will be the sixth clash bet-ween Arsenal and Dortmund, all in the Champions League.

Arsenal had won four points in the 2011/12 group matches. Last season, Arsenal lost 2-1 in London but won 1-0 away.

Chelsea (Group G)

P4, W2, D2, L0, Gls 9-2, Pts 8.

Results: Home vs Schalke 1-1; Away vs Sporting Lisbon 1-0; Home v Maribor 6-0; Away vs Maribor 1-1.

Chelsea are the only English side to stay undefeated after four matches. Next Tuesday they play FC Schalke away.

In previous Champions League clashes, the Londoners collected maximum points in 2014, shared the honours in 2012 and gained four points in 2008.