UCL Preview: How will the English teams in the competition fare in round 6?

Champions League Preview: Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool, Spurs battle for top-8 spots. Big games vs Brugge, Atalanta, Real Madrid, Inter.

Will Liverpool's off-field issues come to play when they travel to Inter Milan on Tuesday? How will the rest of English teams in the competition fare? (Photo credit: Opta)

The Champions League is back for the last time this year. Five Premier League clubs would fight for important points as they all attempt to squeeze into only eight slots alongside other European heavyweights.

Arsenal is the best-placed English side in the Champions League this season; the Gunners may be struggling recently in the Premier League, but Mikel Arteta’s side stands heads and shoulders above the rest of the clubs in the competition.

The Gunners have won five out of their last five games and have only conceded one goal. Arsenal doesn’t play until Wednesday; however, it’s a trip to Belgium, where they play against a stubborn Club Brugge side. Arsenal is almost certain to qualify automatically for the next stage without playoffs; that is what other clubs are hoping for as well.

Chelsea currently sits in 7th place on the log; they’re away at Atalanta on Tuesday. They need a win to retain their place on the log as they hope to avoid unnecessary playoff games in January. Atalanta would replace Chelsea in the top 8 if the Italian side wins at home; this is one to watch out for.

Manchester City doesn’t play until Wednesday; however, their game is arguably the fixture of the round as they face Real Madrid. The Los Blancos aren’t in a good place right now; they could use a big win here to also stabilise their confidence.

Real Madrid lost at home to Celta Vigo in La Liga, a result that has seen them toppled at the top of the log in the league. Word on the street is also that this fixture against Manchester City is the last cigarette for Xabi Alonso; this is a huge fixture.

There’s so much to unpack from what is happening at Anfield. The team is not winning on the pitch, and the team is unsettled off the pitch. Mohammed Salah has given us a hint of a breakdown in relationships; where does the club go from here?

Liverpool’s chances of making the top 8 are threatened, and the Kops must beat Inter Milan away from home to boost their chances. Is there enough left in the tank to pull off a good result against Inter Milan? Liverpool collapsed against Leeds at the weekend; what can they achieve in this one?

Then there’s Tottenham, the least-placed English team in the Champions League. They have a good chance to climb up the ladder, but they must overcome their poor home form to beat Slavia on Tuesday. Newcastle takes on Bayer Leverkusen; they must remember that the latter beat City at the Etihad.