Tuesday 27 September 2016 14:17, UK
The Champions League has a negative impact on English clubs in their subsequent Premier League fixtures, a Sky Sports study in association with HPE has found.
Arsenal, Leicester, Manchester City and Tottenham were all victorious in their domestic fixtures after the first round of Champions League games, but recent history suggests that is unlikely to hold true for the rest of the season, with Premier League teams competing in Europe's elite club competition often suffering a knock-on effect from their midweek exertions.
Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea have taken part in the last five Champions League competitions and over that period average a worse points-per-game return in Premier League fixtures taking place after Champions League rounds.
City have suffered more than most, with their points-per-game haul in the Premier League dropping from 2.18 when they haven't played in the Champions League earlier in the week, to 1.76 when they have. That's a 19 per cent decrease.
Interestingly, City's neighbours Manchester United have proved to be the exception to the rule. Over the past five years, in which United have participated four times in the Champions League, the Old Trafford side actually have a better record in Premier League matches played after those European games.
United have taken an average of 2.09 points per game in the Premier League following Champions League action but that figure drops to 2.01 points per game when they haven't.
However, while their five-year average points return demonstrates a drop-off after Champions League action, City, Arsenal and Chelsea have each had individual seasons where they've picked up more points per game after European action.
In 2012/13, City won 1.8 points per game after Champions League fixtures, compared to 1.16 at other times. Arsenal (in 2013/14 and 2014/15) and Chelsea (2011/12 and 2013/14) have experienced similar trends.
In 2014/15, Liverpool had a better record after not playing in the Champions League. Under Brendan Rodgers, the Reds took 1.7 points per game when they hadn't previously played in the Champions League compared with 1.17 when they had.
While there is a clear overriding trend among Premier League clubs in the Champions League over the last five years, the impact of the Europa League is more mixed.
In eight of the 12 Europa League campaigns by Premier League clubs since 2011/12, those teams have averaged more points after their European fixtures than in other league games.
In fact, during the 2011/12 season Tottenham, Stoke and Fulham averaged considerably more points in Premier League games after Europa League fixtures.
That season, Tottenham averaged 2.25 points per game after their Europa League ties, compared with 1.7 points per game in other Premier League matches. Stoke (1.78 points per game compared to one point per game) and Fulham (two points per game and 1.2 points per game) also responded well to Europa League competition.
However, the overall record of Tottenham and Liverpool - who have played a high number of Europa League games over the past five years - shows they have taken fewer points from Premier League games which take place following a Europa League tie since 2011/12.
Europa League play-offs played before the start of the season are not included, nor are European fixtures played before cup games or, in the case of Wigan in 2013/14 and Birmingham in 2011/12, Championship games.
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