Arsenal and Chelsea victories ensure England boasts four semi-finalists for the first time in 35 years… back when there were three UEFA competitions, and Liverpool reigned supreme
- English football has four teams in the semi-finals of Europe’s two competition
- Liverpool and Tottenham have progressed to the Champions League final four
- Arsenal and Chelsea remain in contention for Europa League silverware
- The last time four English clubs were in European semi-finals was in 1983/84
English football has four teams in the semi-finals of European football’s elite competition for the first time in 35 years.
Following a successful week on the continental front, Liverpool and Totteham booked their respective places in the final four of the Champions League.
Arsenal and Chelsea followed suit on Europa duty, making the semi-finals and giving English football bragging rights on the biggest stage.
Arsenal booked their place in the Europa League semi-finals after beating Napoli
Chelsea faced a late scare from Slavia Prague but also progressed to the final four
With the way the fixtures fall, there is now potential for two all-English finals.
To observe the last time English football has such dominance, one has to peer back through 35-years of the record books.
The last time four English clubs were in European semi-finals was in 1983/84, when there were three UEFA competitions.
Earlier in the week Liverpool breezed past Porto to make another Champions League semi
In a game for the ages, Tottenham beat Manchester City to set up a showdown with Ajax
Back in those days Liverpool reigned supreme, dominating the landscape both in Europe and on home shores.
During that season the Reds went on to lift the European Cup by beating Roma in their own back yard.
Manchester United meanwhile made the semi-finals of the now defunct Cup Winners Cup, while Nottingham Forest and Tottenham featured in the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup.
Like Liverpool, Spurs went on to bag glory that year and defeated Belgian side Anderlecht in the final.
Liverpool reigned supreme in the 1983/34 season and won the European Cup in Rome
In the same season, as English teams dominated, Tottenham won the UEFA Cup in London
To get to a European final once more, Spurs must overcome the surprise package of this season’s Champions League – Ajax – in order to book their ticket to Madrid.
Liverpool face a stern test as they go up against five-times winners Barcelona, with reunions with familiar faces Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho in the offing.
For the Europa League and the journey to Baku, Arsenal must defeat Valencia over two legs while Chelsea will go up against Eintracht Frankfurt.
