All that muscle that the Premier League clubs were meant to have was certainly not flexed on the continent. Is all the talk about their strength nothing more than chewing the fat? That plus Igor Tudor’s continuing nadir at Tottenham. Sigh. Issue 81. Go.

Midweek results in Europe were a reminder of just how unpredictable football can be. Six English teams in the Champions League Round of 16 were meant to demonstrate dominance, did any outfit actually show their strength?

Arsenal and Newcastle could not get the decisive edge over Barcelona and Bayer Leverkusen, Tottenham were humbled 5-2 by Atletico Madrid, Chelsea fell to holders PSG by the same score.

Manchester City were outclassed by Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. Liverpool still have life left in their tie with Galatasaray. Nothing was straightforward, no single result can be taken as proof of superiority.

It is far too early to declare anything about the strength of Premier League teams in Europe. One midweek of results does not define the bigger picture. Newcastle were the only side to enjoy home advantage in the first leg.

Moments of brilliance and collapse reshaped ties. No single player could carry a Premier League team through on their own. Instead, what stood out were patterns, strategies and squad depth. Midweek football belongs to the system, not the individuals.

The second legs will be decisive. Perhaps only three, or even fewer, English sides will make the last eight. Only then will we begin to understand which teams really have the edge and how dominant the Premier League is on the European stage.

Even when an English team reaches the last eight, it does not automatically mean superiority. Bayern Munich showed ruthless efficiency against Atalanta, cruising to a 6-1 win without even needing Harry Kane.

That kind of performance highlights the advantage of a league schedule built for consistency and recovery - a luxury Premier League clubs rarely have when juggling high-stakes domestic and European fixtures.

The Premier League’s depth is impressive, but it also spreads energy thin. Newcastle, in the bottom half of the table, highlight the challenge of competing on multiple fronts while trying to construct consistent league form.

By the time the final is played, only two teams matter, regardless of how many English sides made it through. If neither lift the trophy, European football will have ultimately preserved its balance for another season in its ultimate competition.

And everything I wrote in the previous article is simply hot air.

Is this just a short-term blip for English clubs or is their dominance misplaced? Let me know what you think via either an email (address at the bottom of issue) or in the comments section.

Just two Saturday 3pm kickoffs this weekend. All but undermining the scheduling slot once and for all.

Every game matters, they obviously matter more at this point of the season but when you consider how many teams are in Europe - nine at present, that was always going to have knock-on effect if the Thursday cohort went deep in their respective competitions.

The fixtures between Burnley and Bournemouth and Sunderland’s clash with Brighton the only two not to be televised on UK TV this weekend. For those who are fighting to keep the blackout, the fight seems rather pointless if so few games are going to be played at this time slot.

Maybe that is the answer in itself, Premier League games just not held at 3pm on Saturdays. We are almost there anyway, who would really question it?

Or perhaps look at it from a different lens. If these two games were available on Sky and you had no direct link to any of the four clubs, would you stay in and view this instead of going to your lower or non-league team. I will leave that up to you.

In his press conference before the Liverpool game, interim Tottenham manager Igor Tudor has said his players can either "cry or fight" as they seek to turn around their dire situation and avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Surely we are at the point where Tudor just needs to stop with the hardline rhetoric. I would say that he has lost the Spurs dressing room, truth be told I don’t think he could ever lay claim that it was his.

Antonin Kinsky given a start against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, hauled off after 17 minutes. A dreadful performance but the handling of that was borderline cruel from Tudor. The keeper’s confidence shattered once and for all.

Which is ultimately the cut line through this Spurs squad, they simply have no confidence. This tough love is nothing more than toxic shock to a team that was not drafted in for a relegation scrap.

Personally I am surprised Tudor has been given the opportunity to oversee what Spurs do at Liverpool on Sunday. Another defeat with the Croat in charge and it may make sense to cut ties once and for all.

Especially if results do go against Spurs at the weekend, should last season’s Europa League winners be in the bottom three before the visit of Nottingham Forest next weekend, then surely something has to give. I would give anything for anyone else to be in charge right now.

A look at the main talking points as we head into the upcoming Premier League weekend schedule.

Scott Parker goes up against one of his former employers in Bournemouth on Saturday as the Clarets bid to launch a great escape from relegation is desperately running out of time. The Clarets nine points from safety, having only picked up a single point from the last nine on offer.

They welcome a Bournemouth side who currently have the longest unbeaten streak in the division. Nine games unbeaten for Andoni Iraola’s side, they are also the league’s draw specalists. 13 of their 29 games have ended in stalemate, a win at Turf Moor would further boost their European hopes.

Sunderland’s recent win over Leeds keeps the Black Cats in the hunt for European football and they look to build on their success at Elland Road with a win on Saturday afternoon. Regis Le Bris’ men just four points behind Brentford who currently sit in seventh, they welcome Brighton to the Stadium of Light.

A fixture that is billed as one club with realistic hopes of gatecrashing the European qualification places, the other with hopes that are perhaps more fanciful. Brighton's road to the end of the season looks an easy one, it will be even easier if they fail to win on Wearside.

Two Champions League sides in action at Stamford Bridge, neither really has the luxury of resting players before their second legs in midweek. Chelsea needing a win to make sure they stay in the top five - especially after conceding five to PSG on Wednesday, it will be interesting to see who starts in goal for the Blues.

As for Newcastle, it will be interesting to see who starts up top on Saturday. A trio of recognised forwards on the bench during the 1-1 draw with Barcelona. If Anthony Gordon is fully fit, then expect him to get the nod. Regardless of his effort, you get the feeling neither Nick Woltemade or Yoan Wissa are truly trusted in that role.

Arsenal will be looking for a perfect ten on Saturday or at least the opportunity to go 10 points clear for a few hours. The Gunners’ playing before title rivals Manchester City this weekend and doing so in the knowledge that they have the ideal opportunity to turn the title screw further.

Standing in their way of a double figure lead on at least a temporary basis are Everton. David Moyes’ men firmly in the chasing pack when it comes to the last of the European places on offer through the Premier League. More importantly, they are unbeaten in each of their last six away games. A potential banana skin at the Emirates perhaps?

West Ham fighting for the lives, Manchester City fighting to keep their title hopes alive. A fascinating subplot before the two teams meet at the London Stadium on Saturday night and if the Hammers can bottle whatever Crysencio Summerville has been producing these past few weeks, they will not be in trouble for much longer

As for Manchester City, they will hope that the pendulum swings back their way. Seven points behind before the weekend’s events get underway, even their game in hand has now lost value due to their recent 2-2 draw at home to Nottingham Forest. You expect them to win this one, but that expectation has already been misplaced elsewhere this season. Far from a done deal on Saturday.

Third plays hosts to fourth on Sunday as Manchester United welcome Aston Villa to Old Trafford. The last time these two sides met, the upcoming visitors won by two goals to one thanks to a Morgan Rogers double back in December. A lot has changed since then. None more so than respective league positions.

United looking to bounce back from their recent defeat at Newcastle, Michael Carrick’s long-term future still yet to be decided. As for Aston Villa, the trajectory of their club is downward and if results go there way, both Chelsea and Liverpool will look to take full advantage in the race for Champions League qualification.

Nottingham Forest huffed and puffed on Thursday night but failed to blow the house down in the Europa League. 22 shots against Midtjylland, none of them breaching the opposition net. Frustration for Vitor Pereira’s men, frustration that they will look to take out on Fulham.

The Cottagers arrive to the banks of the River Trent still bruised after their FA Cup defeat at the hands of Southampton. That route to Europe blocked off, they instead will now look to usurp local rivals Brenford. Last time out in the league they beat they lost at home to West Ham. Four defeats in the last six for Marco Silva’s men. A late season surge required.

Crystal Palace joining Nottingham Forest when it comes to Thursday night frustration in Europe. Oliver Glasner’s men held by AEK Lanarca in the Conference League, a returning Jean-Philippe Mateta booed by his own support. They obviously did not appreciate his flirtation with AC Milan in January.

As for opponents Leeds, they would appreciate three points in their bid to stay up. Daniel Farke’s men only three points clear of the drop zone, they are at the point where if results go against them they could find themselves in serious trouble. Defeat to Sunderland in their last league outing, they may be able to take advantage of Palace’s greater focus on Europe.

Beaten by Galatasaray for the second time this season in midweek, Arne Slot’s men will look to hand out the same level of punishment on Sunday at the expense of Tottenham. The Reds fighting for a top five finish, their opponents currently operating in a form of toxic shock thanks to thrashings both home and abroad.

Hosts Liverpool something of a mixed bag recently, a win over Wolves in the FA Cup sandwiched by defeat to the same Molineux outfit in the league and the Turkish giants in the Champions League. Even a mixed bag is better than the basket case that is Spurs, another thrashing and surely it leads to a Tudor execution.

Monday Night Football takes its cameras to the GTech Community Stadium as Brentford play host to Wolves and Keith Andrews' men will be keeping a keen eye on the events of the chasing pack across the weekend. Only Everton can usurp them from seventh place but a whole host of sides could also tighten the gap to the Bees.

At least they will know the lie of the land and opponents Wolves will also know the lie of the land once and for all in a couple of weeks. Their chances of staying up obviously unlikely, but there has been a recent uptick in form in recent weeks. If they can finish ahead of Burnley, then the salvation project has been a success from boss Rob Edwards.

After recently tying down Bukayo Saka to a new deal at Arsenal, the focus is on Declan Rice to commit his long-term future to the club.

The midfielder still has two years left to run on his current deal, somewhere in the region of £300,000 a week will more than double his agreed years of service. Truth be told, I cannot see him agitating for a move elsewhere.

The conflict in the Middle East continues for a third week, nobody really knows when it will end. Nobody knows if Iran will make it to the World Cup. FIFA technically hold the cards, will Donald Trump be in charge of dishing them out.

This should be the perfect example of sport ignoring what is going on the wider world, unfortunately we live in imperfect times. The World Cup play-offs are only a couple of weeks away, that should give a better idea if anybody is soon given a golden ticket to the finals.

For those worrying about whether English football will lose their fifth place in the Champions League after the midweek performances, I would say you have nothing to worry about.

Middlesbrough slipping up at home to Charlton in the EFL Championship in midweek, Kim Hellberg’s men just a point ahead of Millwall as the race for automatic promotion heats up.

Coventry flying high in the sky (blues) after their comfortable win over Preston on Wednesday. It looks as if they will be claiming their return to the Premier League but can Millwall join them in the top tier for the first time since the late 1980’s?

The FPL deadline is not until 13:30 Saturday afternoon, absolutely no excuse not to do your team. Will Erling Haaland still be on captain duties?

Right, that’s the end of issue 81 as word continues to spread around the football world.

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Issue 82 drops Tuesday and I’ll be back with another round of insight, analysis and trends that matter. Any feedback or comments on this issue, contact me below:

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