Manchester City and Liverpool had contrasting fortunes in the Champions League this week but both must now overcome their historical European hangovers.
And while Liverpool are the ones coming off an impressive win over Paris Saint-Germain, a look at recent seasons' statistics suggests City may be better equipped to follow up with a domestic win as they look to bounce back from defeat to Lyon.
Both clubs have relatively easy Premier League fixtures on paper this weekend, with Pep Guardiola returning to the dugout at Cardiff following his UEFA suspension while Liverpool are at home to Southampton.
But that provides no guarantees, as Jurgen Klopp will be able to testify having seen his Reds held to draws by Newcastle, Burnley and relegated Stoke following European games last season.
They also drew twice with local rivals Everton and once with Chelsea after Champions League games en route to the final, but lost in another such meeting with the Blues and also to Manchester United and Tottenham.
From the group stage onwards, their only wins the weekend after a European game came against West Ham and Bournemouth.
Press Association Sport has looked at results over the last five seasons for the Premier League's 'Big Six' of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, City, Manchester United and Tottenham.
And the figures show that City and Liverpool have seen their results affected most heavily over that period when playing the weekend after a game in the Champions League or Europa League main draw.
The Reds had 31 Premier League games over the five years which came less than seven days after a European fixture. They won 11, drew 11 and lost nine of those for an average of 1.42 points per game, compared to 1.84 in their other league games the same seasons.
That decline of 0.42 is the largest of any of the six clubs, with City also dropping off by more than a third of a point, from 2.23 per game to 1.89.
Guardiola's side, though, were untroubled last season - winning nine of their 10 post-European games with the only exception being defeat to United in April. Their 27 points from those 10 fixtures was actually an improvement on the 2.6 per game they collected in their other 28.
Arsenal are unique among the six clubs in improving their points-per-game ratio in matches immediately after a European assignment - albeit very slightly, from 1.90 to 1.95.
That was not a product of playing in the Europa League with mostly shadow teams last season, when their 23 points from 14 games marked a slight dip compared to the rest of their season.
It may, however, be partly explained by their follow-up fixtures over the five years. The Gunners faced another top-six finisher from the season in question on only 13 occasions out of 46 post-European games - only Tottenham had a lower ratio (eight out of 44).
Spurs also had the majority of their European fixtures in the second-tier Europa League, in theory offering easier opposition on those occasions - and yet they declined by 0.22 points per game in the matches following, the third-worst ratio.
Chelsea were marginally better, with a drop-off of 0.18 points per game, while United all but held firm and actually improved their win percentage to 55.9 (19 out of 34) after European games compared to 62 of their other 118 games (52.5 per cent).
johnteye
0
we just pray for an injury free season so we can show the world Liverpool is awake from its slumber
rihcknopr
0
pep can never win champions league without messi
Barselona can never win champions league without Messi ⚽⚽ Real Madrid can never win champions league without Ronaldo ⚽⚽ Pep Guardiola is always trying to win champions league without Messi and Ronaldo ⚽ ⚽
Zere8
0
Now I'm worry. Should I withdraw my bet? After all, Klopp's teams and style of play requires a lot of rest between games to be effective. But then again, Southampton has score 6 and received 6, while Liver has score 11 and received only 2. What should I do?
no hangover, they have been trained to play this style, it is not like they play like this occasionally and they are already battle harden n got used to this
Abdul-bashir
0
PSG did their best in Liverpool. Looking at the way PSG play their way game with Liverpool show that they are better than Lyon.
Wizcdet
0
All these teams have registered very high profile players and shouldn't complain of hangovers! Chelsea even played better yesterday with some of the reserve players than with the full compliment of the first team. The defence yesterday coped well. When you over use the players, they lose strength. If Morata did well yesterday, they could have scored six, seven goals away!
chelsea played europa league and the other teams played champions league so its obvious they could afford to use their reserve players unless you are nuts then you can use reserve players in champions league
actaios
0
Now I'm worry. Should I withdraw my bet? After all, Klopp's teams and style of play requires a lot of rest between games to be effective. But then again, Southampton has score 6 and received 6, while Liver has score 11 and received only 2. What should I do?
CityMan
0
we should unite when it's about euro
Most are in too deep with hating the other teams it’s not possible. Too much jealousy and spite!
CityMan
0
😁😁😁😂😂😂
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EPL fans grabbing at any chance they can get to laugh at City. Lol Enjoy it while it lasts.👍
CityMan
0
I was so disappointed in the way man City losses to Lyon on man City own back yard. This is something man City not be repeated again. If man City losses to Barcelona, Real Madrid, PSG, or Juventus but not Lyon.
I agree with you but Lyon were way better than PSG. PSG looked lost and like there was no game plan while Lyon had a strategy and played well. Either way City need to improve a lot.
Nzube Okeke Patoh
3
pep can never win champions league without messi
CityMan
0
Sane should have started, that would have made it a different game from the beginning. As soon as he came on the game changed. Pep better not make that mistake again.
Yep. Sane and Aguero came on and all the sudden Lyon could do nothing but park the bus and hope we didn’t score. Pep has learned a lesson this week.
Elsa98
1
Very much so stronger and will prove all the haters wrong
YNWA!!🔴🔴
DeeboLFC
0
This season is different.. YNWA!🔴🔴
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Very much so stronger and will prove all the haters wrong
DeeboLFC
0
like every season 😂😂😂
Focus on man u snd leave liverpool alone...
DeeboLFC
0
Both winning streak continues. Lets booze boys
Let them know my friend straight victory we say none stop who next?????
DeeboLFC
0
All these teams have registered very high profile players and shouldn't complain of hangovers! Chelsea even played better yesterday with some of the reserve players than with the full compliment of the first team. The defence yesterday coped well. When you over use the players, they lose strength. If Morata did well yesterday, they could have scored six, seven goals away!
Chelsea play no team to worry about even premier # 19 team could have won 4-0 comfortable
DeeboLFC
3
Crazy this season is no comparison to last....Liverpool squad by far better with any starting 11 klop put out there and win is the target n will be the result tomorrow....Clean sheet is the aim in fact for the next 10 or more game I can imagine
OGYANK1217
0
Arsenal all the way...
Kelechukwu Benjamin
1
All these teams have registered very high profile players and shouldn't complain of hangovers! Chelsea even played better yesterday with some of the reserve players than with the full compliment of the first team. The defence yesterday coped well. When you over use the players, they lose strength. If Morata did well yesterday, they could have scored six, seven goals away!
SgtSINGAM67
2
Both winning streak continues. Lets booze boys
Elsa98
0
like every season 😂😂😂
Thanks for your reply.
Apoorv955
2
This season is different.. YNWA!🔴🔴
[image]
like every season 😂😂😂
Cooperer
2
liverpool is heading for their first PL champion
Kingkley
4
Liverpool CL winner YNWA
Bhenry
3
Europeans giants of England
Pasidon2730
2
Sane should have started, that would have made it a different game from the beginning. As soon as he came on the game changed. Pep better not make that mistake again.
Divyansh26
1
soon Liverpool turn will come.
let's see
Elsa98
6
This season is different.. YNWA!🔴🔴
Akib30
1
Manchester city be like......
[image]
soon Liverpool turn will come.
Cubalptuy
0
CL final:liverpool vs city
it'll never happen
Cubalptuy
0
CL final:liverpool vs city
it'll nvr happened
shubhtiwari
0
klopp.vs pep.. impressive to watch two best coaches.
Abdul-bashir
1
I was so disappointed in the way man City losses to Lyon on man City own back yard. This is something man City not be repeated again. If man City losses to Barcelona, Real Madrid, PSG, or Juventus but not Lyon.
Divyansh26
7
Manchester city be like......
ashbertino
1
They can't go far.No experience the club needs more time to grow
Divyansh26
2
😁😁😁😂😂😂
opinion
2
hope PL dominate CL and EL
prakashcr7
4
I don't know why Manchester City can't perform well in champions league
Armstronger
1
liverpool already got 2 wins
Carolo
1
EL winner Arsenal confirmed
message
2
CL final:liverpool vs city
leavessS
1
comon CITY show them what u can do!
tsunamia
1
liverpool has a strong squad so they can survive
Savannah
2
we should unite when it's about euro
bluesgay
1
as a PL fan i wish they can get over it
shamim359
1
This time Liverpool create new history🙌🙌🙌
BOBxibit
1
Arsenal tends to increase their ratio of wins by the day though unstable at some point but will get past difficult challenges like Man city and Manu
CygonNavarro
0
both will flop somewhere somehow