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Champions League: An English winner in 2019?

Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah will be key to their team’s Champions League hopes. (Credit: Getty Images)
Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah will be key to their team’s Champions League hopes. (Credit: Getty Images)

The line-up for the Champions League quarter finals is complete and, for the first time since 2009, four English clubs will feature.

Liverpool’s impressive win over Bayern Munich saw them join Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the last eight as a Premier League club aim to lift the famous old trophy for the first time since Chelsea in 2012.

Each side will discover their fate when the draw takes place on Friday in Nyon. Here’s a rundown of how the Premier League contenders are shaping up.

Liverpool

Sadio Mane scored twice as Liverpool won 3-1 against Bayern Munich. (Credit: Getty Images)
Sadio Mane scored twice as Liverpool won 3-1 against Bayern Munich. (Credit: Getty Images)

Champions League wins: Five (1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2005)

Last season: Finalists

Liverpool made easy work of Bayern Munich in the last 16 second leg at the Allianz Arena. Sadio Mane was in inspired form as he scored twice, while Virgil van Djik looked almost unbeatable in defence.

If Liverpool are to go one better than their defeat to Real Madrid in last season’s final, they will need both players to carry this kind of form in the latter rounds — especially after some unconvincing away performances in the group stages.

Jurgen Klopp’s side continue to fight on two fronts as they remain neck-and-neck with Manchester City in the race for the Premier League title.

The German manager has been on the losing side in two Champions League finals as manager but will hope to make it third time lucky this time around.

Manchester United

Marcus Rashford’s late penalty sparked wild celebrations in Paris. (Credit: Getty Images)
Marcus Rashford’s late penalty sparked wild celebrations in Paris. (Credit: Getty Images)

Champions League wins: Three (1968, 1999, 2008)

Last season: Round of 16

Manchester United pulled off a miraculous comeback by recovering from a 2-0 first-leg defeat to beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 in the French capital and advance to the last eight.

Marcus Rashford’s stoppage time penalty at the Parc des Princes continued a theme of the Red Devils scoring decisive late goals this season, following last-gasp wins over Juventus and Young Boys earlier in the competition.

United will compete at this stage of the competition for the first time since 2014, when David Moyes’ side were eliminated by Bayern Munich 4-2 on aggregate.

Despite a promising start to his tenure, caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer now faces a true test of his credentials. The Norwegian will have to juggle European commitments, an FA Cup run and a top-four battle in the Premier League. Success on any of those three fronts could be enough to secure him the job full time.

Manchester City

Sergio Aguero could fire Manchester City to a first Champions League triumph. (Credit: Getty Images)
Sergio Aguero could fire Manchester City to a first Champions League triumph. (Credit: Getty Images)

Champions League wins: None

Best performance: Semi-finals (2016)

Last season: Quarter-final

Manchester City put on a dominant display as they thrashed Schalke 7-0 at the Etihad Stadium in the second leg of their last 16 tie – their biggest win in European competition.

Sitting atop the Premier League, with the League Cup already in the bag and an FA Cup quarter final to follow, City currently remain on course for an unprecedented quadruple.

A team that hardly struggles for goals, City have netted at least twice in their last seven matches in the competition, a run that began after a shock 2-1 defeat against Lyon during the opening matchweek.

Pep Guardiola has won the competition twice as a manager, both with Barcelona, but not since 2011, despite reaching the quarter-final stage in nine of his 10 campaigns as a manager.

Tottenham Hotspur

Harry Kane is key to Tottenham’s hopes at home and abroad. (Credit: Getty Images)
Harry Kane is key to Tottenham’s hopes at home and abroad. (Credit: Getty Images)

Champions League wins: None

Best performance: Quarter finals (2011)

Last season: Round of 16

Tottenham’s 4-0 aggregate victory over Borussia Dortmund provided a welcome distraction from their current league troubles or an extra burden as their rivals chase them down in the race for a Premier League.

Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping their European run doesn’t come at the cost of a top-four finish following a four-game winless run in the league which has included three defeats.

Harry Kane will be Tottenham’s key man if they are to make history, the England captain’s strike in the second leg at the Westfalenstadion made him the club’s highest goalscorer in European competition with 24 goals.

After a stuttering start to their campaign, Spurs have now matched their best performance in Europe’s top competition and will hope to improve on their 2011 campaign when they were knocked out by Real Madrid.